Latest news with #BergviewCollege
IOL News
05-08-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Why did Principal Jaco Pieterse leave Bergview College after being cleared of rape allegation?
Bergview College has officially parted ways with Jaco Pieterse, who had been a principal at the Eastern Cape institution. He was implicated in connection with an alleged rape of a seven-year-old Cwecwe but was later cleared of any involvement. The decision follows months of turmoil sparked by what AfriForum has described as a disinformation campaign that led to death threats and supposedly forced Pieterse to flee his home in March. "The Board of Bergview College and Mr Pieterse have agreed that the employment relationship between Pieterse and Bergview College be terminated by mutual consent. We kindly ask for your continued support and cooperation during this transition period as we work together to maintain the stability and success of the school," the board said. AfriForum's Private Prosecution Unit, which has been representing Pieterse's interests, has welcomed the outcome while vowing to pursue justice against those responsible for what it calls a coordinated smear campaign. "AfriForum's Private Prosecution Unit can confirm Pieterse's amicable departure from the school. Our current priority is to ensure the prosecution of those who falsely accused him of being a suspect in an alleged rape," said spokesperson Barry Bateman.
IOL News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Mbalula will not apologise for remarks on Bergview principal, says ANC
The ANC has defended its Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula amid criminal charges from Berview principal. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers THE ANC has remained unmoved by a criminal complaint against its secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, saying defending outrage against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBV-F) is not a crime. The party was responding to reports that Bergview College principal Jaco Pieterse lodged a criminal complaint against him. Represented by AfriForum's Private Prosecuting Unit, Pieterse, alleges that Mbalula, along with EFF leader Julius Malema and Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade, violated his dignity by falsely accusing him of raping a child. Pieterse claims the trio publicly accused him of raping a 7-year-old girl, known as Cwecwe, after her mother suspected that she was raped. Medical reports had since found that there were no traces of sexual assault. Last month the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) stopped pursuing the case saying they did not hold enough evidence. However, the ANC has slammed AfriForum's decision to pursue the matter, calling it "disingenuous, ideologically driven, and flawed." The party maintains that defending outrage against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBV-F) is not a crime. "We will not apologise for speaking out in defence of the voiceless," ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu wrote in a statement. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading "We call on all progressive forces, including our Alliance partners, the ANC Women's League, youth formations, religious and community organisations, to reject any effort to criminalise outrage and moral clarity in the face of GBV-F,' Bhengu added. The party has reaffirmed its support for Mbalula, saying he carried the voice of millions when he condemned the rape of a seven-year-old girl at Bergview College. "We urge all to act with vigilance against those who exploit the justice system for ideological ends and threaten prosecution against those who defend what is right," the party said. EFF spokesperson Sinawo Tambo had not provided a response on charges being laid against Malema. Pieterse lodged a criminal complaint of crimen-injuria and intimidation at the Sophiatown police station in Gauteng against Mbalula, Malema, and Gade while Mbalula and Malema face additional charges of violating the Cybercrime and Intimidation Acts. In his affidavit, Pieterse asks that the rape docket be included as the first exhibit in his cases, citing the scope and extent of the lies told about him. "The consequences of the reckless and malicious statements made against me have had an irreversible and devastating impact on every aspect of my life," he said Spokesperson for AfriForum's Private Prosecution Unit, Barry Bateman, said the politicians' comments were unjust and violated Pieterse's dignity. "Pieterse was publicly labelled a paedophile, a label that in society's eyes is among the most irredeemable and damning," Bateman said. 'South Africa has a rape crisis, we have a child abuse crisis, and being falsely accused of committing such a crime against a child is devastating,' Bateman said. 'This is why we are pursuing these charges.' Bateman also criticised Mbalula, who he said had referred to Pieterse as 'an animal,' questioning how AfriForum could defend 'an animal who rapes children". 'This is simply unacceptable. There must be consequences for people who falsely accuse others in the public domain,' he said. Bateman added that both Malema and Mbalula have approached the courts in recent years because they felt their dignity had been harmed. 'Malema claimed that accusations of illegal dealings and accepting cocaine from drug dealers had left him feeling 'degraded and humiliated' while Mbalula's court case involved accusations of corruption, which the court found had caused him and his family "actual injury"," Bateman said. Cape Times
IOL News
16-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
ANC defends Mbalula amid criminal charges over 'Cwecwe' case
The ANC has defended its Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula amid criminal charges from Berview principal. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers The ANC has come to the defense of its Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, after Bergview College principal Jaco Pieterse filed criminal charges against him. Pieterse, represented by AfriForum's Private Prosecuting Unit, alleges that Mbalula, along with EFF leader Julius Malema and Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade, violated his dignity by falsely accusing him of raping a child. Pieterse claims the trio publicly accused him of raping a 7-year-old girl, known as Cwecwe, after her mother suspected that she was raped, however medical reports had since found that there were no traces of sexual assault. However, the ANC has slammed AfriForum's decision to pursue the matter, calling it "disingenuous, ideologically driven, and flawed." The party maintains that defending outrage against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBV-F) is not a crime. "We will not apologise for speaking out in defence of the voiceless," ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu wrote in a statement. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ "We call on all progressive forces, including our Alliance partners, the ANC Women's League, youth formations, religious and community organisations, to reject any effort to criminalise outrage and moral clarity in the face of GBV-F,' Bhengu added. The party has reaffirmed its support for Mbalula, saying he carried the voice of millions when he condemned the rape of a seven-year-old girl at Bergview College. "We urge all to act with vigilance against those who exploit the justice system for ideological ends and threaten prosecution against those who defend what is right," the party said. EFF spokesperson Sinawo Tambo had not provided a response on charges being laid against Malema. Pieterse filed charges of crimen-injuria and intimidation at the Sophiatown police station in Gauteng against Mbalula, Malema, and Gade while Mbalula and Malema face additional charges of violating the Cybercrime and Intimidation Acts. In his affidavit, Pieterse asks that the rape docket be included as the first exhibit in his cases, citing the scope and extent of the lies told about him. "The consequences of the reckless and malicious statements made against me have had an irreversible and devastating impact on every aspect of my life," he said Spokesperson for AfriForum's Private Prosecution Unit, Barry Bateman, said the politicians' comments were unjust and violated Pieterse's dignity. "Pieterse was publicly labelled a paedophile, a label that in society's eyes is among the most irredeemable and damning," Bateman said. 'South Africa has a rape crisis, we have a child abuse crisis, and being falsely accused of committing such a crime against a child is devastating,' Bateman said. 'This is why we are pursuing these charges.' Bateman also criticised Mbalula, who he said had referred to Pieterse as 'an animal,' questioning how AfriForum could defend 'an animal who rapes children". 'This is simply unacceptable. There must be consequences for people who falsely accuse others in the public domain,' he said. Bateman added that both Malema and Mbalula have approached the courts in recent years because they felt their dignity had been harmed. 'Malema claimed that accusations of illegal dealings and accepting cocaine from drug dealers had left him feeling 'degraded and humiliated' while Mbalula's court case involved accusations of corruption, which the court found had caused him and his family "actual injury"," Bateman said. Cwecwe, whose case was widely supported nationally, was raped last October at a private school in Matatiele. Last month the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) stopped pursuing the case saying they did not hold enough evidence. According to NPA national spokesperson Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga, the case docket was first reportedly submitted in November 2024 to prosecutors at the Matatiele Magistrate's Court and the Matatiele Thuthuzela Care Centre. After interviewing the child and conducting a medical examination, prosecutors reportedly determined that the evidence was inconclusive and did not support prosecution. This was later upheld by the Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions after further review.
TimesLIVE
13-06-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Bergview College principal lays criminal charges over rape accusations
Bergview College principal Jaco Pieterse has filed a criminal case against ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, EFF leader Julius Malema and Eastern Cape education MEC Fundile Gade for publicly violating his dignity after allegedly falsely accusing him of the rape of a seven-year-old girl at the school. Additional charges for violating the Cybercrime and Intimidation Act were also laid against Malema and Mbalula. Pieterse, who is represented by AfriForum's private prosecution unit, opened the case on Friday at the Sophiatown and Boksburg North police stations and was accompanied by the unit. AfriForum has also instructed its legal team to initiate civil proceedings against Mbalula. 'While I am relieved that the truth has been revealed, I am determined to ensure that people understand that there are consequences for making irresponsible and false allegations on social media and other platforms,' Pieterse said. The case revolves around the seven-year-old girl in Matatiele who was allegedly raped at the school last year. Pieterse and the school's caretaker were identified in a police statement as the main suspects, and he was criticised for refusing to submit DNA samples to the police. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) dropped the case due to insufficient evidence. 'The consequences of the reckless and malicious statements made against me have had an irreversible and devastating impact on every aspect of my life. The trauma and losses I have suffered will take years, if ever, to heal,' Pieterse said. The AfriForum unit's spokesperson Barry Bateman said the accusations violated Pieterse's dignity. 'Pieterse was publicly labelled a paedophile, a label that in society's eyes is among the most irredeemable and damning. Pieterse's case is especially serious because his job entails caring for children. 'We expect the police and the NPA to act with haste to ensure there is justice for Pieterse and his family. These are uncomplicated cases. While evidence has been provided to the police, it is still available on media websites and social media platforms,' Bateman said.
IOL News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Bergview principal lays charges against Malema, Mbalula for 'false rape claims'
Bergview College principal Jaco Pieterse (red tie) has filed charges against Julius Malema, Fikile Mbalula, and MEC Fundile Gade over alleged false claims linking him to the rape of a 7-year-old girl Image: X The principal of Bergview College, Jaco Pieterse, has laid criminal charges against ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, EFF leader Julius Malema, and Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade after being publicly accused of raping a 7-year-old girl, known as Cwecwe. The charges, which were filed at Sophiatown police station in Gauteng, include crimen injuria, intimidation, and contravention of the Cybercrimes Act. Barry Bateman, spokesperson for lobby group AfriForum, which is representing Pieterse, told the media on Friday morning outside the police station that the allegations had devastated the principal's life and career. 'South Africa has a rape crisis, we have a child abuse crisis, and being falsely accused of committing such a crime against a child is devastating,' Bateman said. 'This is why we are pursuing these charges.' Bateman also criticised Mbalula, who he said had referred to Pieterse as 'an animal,' questioning how AfriForum could defend 'an animal who rapes children.' 'This is simply unacceptable. There must be consequences for people who falsely accuse others in the public domain,' he said. 'Social media has worsened the problem, where false allegations are repeated without question.' Last month, IOL News reported that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed it would not pursue criminal prosecution in the case. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The child was allegedly raped at Bergview College, a private school in Matatiele, in October 2024. According to NPA national spokesperson Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga, the case docket was first submitted in November 2024 to prosecutors at the Matatiele Magistrate's Court and the Matatiele Thuthuzela Care Centre. After interviewing the child and conducting a medical examination, prosecutors determined that the evidence was inconclusive and did not support prosecution. The decision was later upheld by the Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions after further review. The case was subsequently returned to the police. However, following public pressure in April 2025, the NPA decided to publicly disclose its decision and confirmed that police had resubmitted the docket for further consideration. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu defended the investigation timeline, rejecting claims that it only began after public outcry. 'To say it took six months for SAPS to act is a dangerous exaggeration,' Mchunu previously said. 'The case was investigated as soon as it was reported in October.' On April 1, 2025, Mbalula, during a media briefing at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, condemned the alleged rape of a 7-year-old girl at Bergview College in Matatiele and sharply criticised AfriForum for defending the accused. 'We are outraged and deeply saddened by the brutal violation of a seven-year-old child at Bergview College,' Mbalula said. 'Even more disgraceful is the involvement of organisations like AfriForum, who shield suspects rather than standing for justice.' Mbalula described the alleged perpetrator as 'an animal,' saying, 'It is not a person who can rape a seven-year-old. That's not a human being... it's cannibalism.' Meanwhile, on April 6, during the EFF's Land Reclamation Day event in Johannesburg, Malema accused the principal of being treated differently by law enforcement. 'The principal who raped Cwecwe must know that we are coming for him,' Malema said. 'We call on all victims of that principal to come out. He should not be working with children.' Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade also commented publicly. According to the lobby group, in a March 30 interview on Newzroom Afrika, he said, 'The principal is one of the suspects who should have submitted a long time ago. When he was called for a DNA test, he ran to his lawyers, clearly avoiding the investigation.' Bateman said AfriForum will now seek criminal convictions against those who made the accusations, including politicians. 'If that involves a custodial sentence, going to jail, that would be preferable,' Bateman said. 'Politicians who lie publicly and destroy lives should go to jail.' He confirmed that AfriForum will also assist Pieterse in filing civil lawsuits against Malema, Mbalula, Gade, and former DA MP Phumzile Van Damme, whom Bateman accused of driving a 'disinformation campaign.' 'Allegations were made against our organisation that we were protecting a rapist - which are entirely false,' he said. Though Pieterse remains the official principal of Bergview College, he has not returned to work and remains in a difficult personal situation, Bateman said. 'He has had to leave his home. His family has received threats. His own daughter was contacted on Instagram and threatened with rape if he didn't submit DNA samples,' Bateman said. 'His entire life has been turned upside down.' Bateman said classes at the school have since resumed. He said despite the accusations, Pieterse remains committed to seeing justice served. 'He believes people who make false allegations should face the music,' he said. IOL News
