Themba Masango Notinmyname international secretary general photo by Dimakatso Modipa
By Themba Masango
Secretary General NotInMyName International
NotInMyName International (NIMN) has learned with profound outrage and disgust of the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old female learner at Prinshof School in Pretoria.
The perpetrator is identified as a white male teacher employed by the school.
This horrific crime came to light only after the victim’s father, concerned by a sudden drop in her academic performance, pursued the matter with school authorities.
It was then that the traumatised child confided in her father, revealing that she was no longer happy or comfortable at the school because she had been sexually assaulted by the said teacher.
We hold the school management accountable for their apparent failure to protect this child and to create a safe environment where learners can thrive without fear.
The fact that this was uncovered by a vigilant parent, and not through the school’s own safeguarding mechanisms, is a damning indictment of its leadership.
We confirm that the names of both the minor victim and the alleged perpetrator are known to us.
We welcome the news that a criminal case has been opened at a Pretoria South African Police Service (SAPS) station and we will be closely monitoring its progress.
Therefore, NotInMyName International demands the following:
1.Immediate Arrest and Prosecution: We call upon the SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to act with speed and diligence to ensure the alleged perpetrator is arrested and faces the full might of the law.
There must be no special treatment or delays in the pursuit of justice.
2.Immediate Dismissal of the Perpetrator:
We demand that the School Governing Body (SGB) and the Department of Basic Education immediately suspend and subsequently terminate the employment of the accused teacher, pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.
He must not be allowed near any other children.
3.Full Cooperation from the School: We call upon the principal and management of Prinshof School to provide their full and unconditional cooperation to law enforcement agencies.
Any attempt to obfuscate, delay, or protect the perpetrator will be seen as complicity.
4.Psychosocial Support for the Victim: We demand that the Department of Basic Education and the school provide immediate and ongoing professional psychosocial support for the victim and her family to aid in their healing from this traumatic ordeal.
In solidarity with the victim and her family, and as part of our ongoing commitment to eradicate Gender-Based Violence (GBV) from our society, representatives from NotInMyName International will be leading a peaceful visitation and demonstration at Prinshof School on Monday, [01 September 2025].
We send a clear message: the abuse of power and the violation of our children in places where they should be safest will not be tolerated.
#NotInMyName will not stand by while predators in positions of authority prey on the vulnerable.
We stand for justice, and we will not rest until it is served.