Grade 5 Pupil Allegedly Circumcised By Older Boys In Soshanguve School Toilets

A Tshwane schoolboy is in pain after he was allegedly circumcised by four older pupils in school toilets. Police have opened a case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm following the ordeal suffered by the grade 5 pupil at Sinqobile Primary in Soshanguve.

The 11-year-old said his attackers threatened to beat him up if he told anyone about the illegal circumcision.

A strange walk, and a mother's discovery

According to the boy's mother, she only became aware of the incident a few days later when she saw her son walking in a strange way. She said her son told her it was a new fashionable way of walking.

However, the mother learnt the shocking truth when he struggled to get up one morning for school.

"When I asked what the issue was, he would not say but showed me a swollen private part. It was then that I rushed him to a doctor. That is where we learned he had been circumcised at school by grade 7 pupils."

What the boy told the doctor

The mother learnt details of what happened to her son during a consultation with the doctor. The boy revealed that other boys pinned him to the ground in the school toilets during break, and tied a red ribbon around his penis before cutting off his foreskin.

"He said the boys threatened to beat him up if he dared to tell anyone. This is not part of our culture. However, the doctor said he could not see anything wrong except the swelling."

The mother said the doctor also revealed that the procedure was done in the fashion of koma (initiation) schools, as there were no stitches after the foreskin was cut. An expert medical opinion will only be given once the swelling has gone down.

Police investigation

The mother has since opened a criminal case and kept her son away from school. The boy returned to school on Wednesday and Thursday with police to point out his attackers.

Gauteng police spokesperson Capt Tintswalo Sibeko confirmed they are investigating a case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

"The docket has since been transferred to the Garankuwa Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit for further investigation. No arrests have been made at this stage."

"How does a child come into school with sharp objects?"

The mother said she was not happy with how the matter was being handled, and questioned how a dangerous object was brought into the school.

"I think the school and the department should have done more to protect my child; even now no one checks on him or brings him schoolwork in two weeks he hasn't been at school. How does a child come into school with sharp objects and do this undetected? I am not even comfortable with the idea of him going back to the school, but it's only a matter of a few months before the end of the year."

Department's response

The Gauteng department of education said it became aware of the incident on August 21.

"Accordingly, the matter is currently under investigation by the relevant authorities, including the South African Police Service," said spokesperson Onwabile Lubhelwana. "The outcome of the investigation will determine action to be taken."

Lubhelwana said the school has a supervision roster in place, implemented by teaching staff and patrollers who monitor various areas of the school premises.

"At this stage, the school has not reported any similar complaints or incidents. We always urge all our learners to refrain from acts of misconduct in schools, and implore parents to assist the department in instilling learner discipline in and outside the school environment."

The CRL Commission has condemned the incident. Deputy principal George Henry Mahlangu said they are perplexed by what happened.

"This is a place where a child should have been safe."

The case at a glance