Johannesburg — The Gauteng Education department has strongly condemned the loss of a grade 7 pupil who died after she was raped and strangled in her house in Soshanguve.
Gauteng Education MEC, Malome Chiloane, said they were deeply saddened by the gruesome incident that took place over the weekend, where the grade 7 pupil from Echibini Secondary School in Soshanguve, according to the department said in a statement.
It was alleged that the suspect broke into the girls’ bedroom window and began to strangle and rape her as her parents slept in another bedroom. Her parents only realised what had happened when they went to wake her up the next morning.
“We are devastated at the gruesome incident. We wish to extend our deepest condolences to the learner’s family and school community at large. We are hopeful that law enforcement agencies will work speedily to bring the perpetrator to book,” Chiloane said.
MEDIA STATEMENT
Gauteng Education MEC @matomekopano is deeply saddened by the passing of a Grade 7 girl learner from Echibini Junior Secondary School in Soshanguve who was allegedly raped and strangled at her family home on Sunday, 17 December 2023.
The @EducationGP1 also… pic.twitter.com/7LsHNfleuK
— Gauteng Department of Education (@EducationGP1) December 18, 2023
According to EWN, this is not the first time that an incident of this nature has happened in the Pretoria North community. Earlier this year, a matriculant was raped and murdered on her way home from school and her body was dumped near the Echibini Junior Secondary School.
“Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident,” Gauteng Education Department spokesperson, Steve Mabona, said.
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Picture: X/@EducationGP1
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
