KZN man who allegedly raped six Nkandla school pupils, arrested with community's help
A KwaZulu-Natal man has been arrested for the alleged rape of six pupils from a Nkandla high school.
Image: Supplied
A KwaZulu-Natal man accused of raping six pupils from an Nkandla high school has been arrested with the help of the community.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Education, Sipho Hlomuka, welcomed the arrest. The suspect was apprehended in Durban on May 20 following a joint effort by law enforcement, community members, and other key stakeholders.
According to the KZN Department of Education, the suspect allegedly raped six learners.
'This arrest demonstrates what is possible when communities and stakeholders work together. We remain deeply concerned about the safety of our learners, and this horrific incident has shaken us all. However, the unity shown in tracking down the alleged perpetrator gives us hope that such evil will not go unchallenged,' said Hlomuka.
He commended the swift and coordinated response by the police, the school governing body, parents, and local residents who collaborated in ensuring the suspect was located and brought into custody.
In response to the trauma experienced by the victims, the Department of Education has deployed psychologists to provide immediate and ongoing psychosocial support to the affected learners and their families.
The MEC was expected to visit the school on Thursday to meet with the affected families and the school's leadership.
"Our priority is to support the learners through this extremely difficult time and ensure their wellbeing is not compromised further,' Hlomuka added.
KZN Premier Thami Ntuli also praised the arrest, highlighting the critical role played by the Bhekisizwe Taxi Association in Nkandla and the broader community in tracking down and detaining the suspect.
'I applaud the courage of those who spoke out, the determination of our law enforcement officers, and the resilience of the Bizimali community,' said Premier Ntuli.
Ntuli reaffirmed the provincial government's zero-tolerance stance on gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), stressing that no one, woman, child, or vulnerable person should live in fear.
'Our communities must become safe spaces, and the wheels of justice must turn swiftly and decisively,' he said.
He also called for the strengthening of community policing forums, survivor support systems, and for more men to actively stand against abuse.
The premier further acknowledged progress in two other GBV-related cases in the province. He welcomed developments in the case of Ayabonga Mjilo, which has been postponed to June 23 and is due to be transferred to the high court. He called for the harshest sentence if the accused is convicted.
In the Ndwedwe case, Ntuli condemned the kidnapping and repeated rape of a woman by her former partner and commended the police for the swift arrest of the suspect.
'Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done. We owe it to survivors to ensure they are heard, supported, and protected,' Ntuli said.
THE MERCURY

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Are police winning the war on Gender-Based Violence?
Despite the challenges, police reported a strong showing in training and enforcement efforts. While nearly 100 police stations in the country still lack a dedicated Gender-Based Violence (GBV) desk, the South African Police Service (Saps) has exceeded several of its performance targets in the fight against gender-based crimes. GBV remains a crisis in South Africa, with alarming rates of women and children falling victim, often at the hands of those closest to them. On Wednesday, Saps briefed the Portfolio Committee on Police on its Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Action Plan. The plan, finalised on 15 January 2025, is aligned with the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on GBVF and the term of the Seventh Administration (2025–2029), with an evaluation scheduled for 2028/29. Improving Services Despite the challenges, police reported a strong showing in training and enforcement efforts. 'From 1 April 2024 to 31 December 2025, 8 069 members received proactive GBV training, while 19 263 received reactive training, far exceeding the targets of 4 727 and 11,983 respectively,' the police said in their presentation. Of the country's 1 165 police stations, 1 070 have designated victim-friendly rooms (VFRs), leaving 95 stations to rely on alternative spaces. 'We completed 18 VFRs during the 2024/25 financial year and plan to add another seven in the current year,' Saps told MPs. All provinces scored 100% in meeting the performance criteria for victim-friendly services, offering some reassurance that victims are receiving adequate care where facilities are available. ALSO READ: Police rope in specialised team to probe murder of 14-year-old Lukhona Fose Investigation and Response Saps reported a detection rate of 69.84% for crimes against women (above the 68.13% target) and 63.32% for crimes against children (exceeding the 61.99% target). The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit also grew by 164 members over the past year. First responders have been trained in sexual offences (1 509 officers) and crime scene response (855 officers), strengthening frontline support. ALSO READ: GBV: Convicted Western Cape rapist on the loose a 'direct threat to women's safety' Room for Improvement However, the management of service complaints still has gaps. 'Out of 223 GBVF-related complaints received, only 175 (78.5%) were finalised within the 14-working-day window,' the report noted. Saps is also participating in intersectoral efforts to monitor femicide and is contributing monthly reports to the Department of Women, Youth and People with Disabilities. 'Action plans will be reviewed annually between February and March to incorporate emerging priorities,' police said, as they reaffirmed their commitment to ending GBV and femicide. NOW READ: 'Declare Limpopo a GBV disaster zone' – ANCWL


The Citizen
20 hours ago
- The Citizen
Six people arrested for selling drugs to learners in Masoyi
Six people were arrested on June 3 and 4 by Masoyi police for allegedly selling drugs to learners in schools around the Masoyi area. The suspects were arrested during an operation by multi-sectoral stakeholders that included the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison (DCSSL) and the Department of Education, who conducted a School Safety Programme. According to the DCSSL spokesperson, Moeti Mmusi, the two-day programme was conducted at six schools in the Masoyi policing precinct. ALSO READ: Poachers' assets to be handed over to SANParks' anti-poaching unit The initiative was also supported by the Department of Correctional Services, the Department of Social Development, the SAPS and the City of Mbombela. 'Six identified schools were visited, and several learners were found in possession of narcotics. Upon interrogation by the police, they pointed out the people outside the schools who were allegedly supplying them with the drugs.' The multidisciplinary teams also found unwanted objects such as knives and other sharp objects on the schools' premises. Mmusi said the search and seizures are part of efforts to create safer school environments for effective learning and teaching. The programme is part of the Integrated School Safety Strategy and it is implemented across the three regions of the province. ALSO READ: Tensions erupt: Magistrate and litigant clash in White River court 'The proliferation of drugs in schools needs to be tackled because once learners are intoxicated, they are dangerous to themselves, their fellow learners, and educators. It is in this regard that parents and guardians are called upon to ensure that they observe the conduct of their children so that they are able to detect any untoward behaviour and seek help before things get out of hand,' Mmusi said. He added that the influence of criminals or gangs on learning remains a challenge. Government will continue to work with various stakeholders to enhance effective learning and teaching without any interference from criminals outside the school. Communities must also report any suspicious activities or people to the police. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here

The Herald
a day ago
- The Herald
Exams delayed after thieves steal equipment from school
'As we speak now, I'm seated with the school governing body to find a solution for the examinations to continue as planned. We are using other printers which were not stolen, but they are very slow, which will delay us. 'It's sad that some older people decide to steal something that belongs to their children, so we are asking anyone for help,' she said. Mpumalanga education MEC Cathy Dlamini called for anyone with information to contact the police. 'This [theft] is a big concern as we regard schools as something that belongs to the community and needs its protection at all costs, as it involves the future of their children.' Dlamini said the theft of equipment undermines the department's efforts to ensure that schools are adequately resourced and hinders the ability of schools to effectively conduct learning and teaching. 'The department urges communities to refrain from purchasing stolen goods and to report individuals suspected of engaging in the sale of stolen items,' she said. The school has a security guard and he is said to have rushed to the nearby KaMhlushwa police station to report the burglary, but by then the thieves had already escaped.