When the school principal asked to see her alone in class, the 16-year-old girl thought she was in trouble as she was absent from school the previous day. She rushed to the class the principal but her worst nightmare, awaited her. He allegedly raped her. The school principal from a combined school in Mpendle in KwaZulu Natal (KZN) has been on the run t since the incident two weeks ago.

RAPE INSIDE A CLASSROOM

According to a local media report, it is alleged that the principal raped a 16-year-old learner who skipped school for a day to go attend the umkhosi womhlanga (reed dance) at Enyokeni Royal House in Nongoma. Isolezwe Ngesonto reports that they are in possession of the recordings in which the principal can be heard apologising to the learner stating he regrets raping her. In the recordings the principal said, "I don't know what I did. I regret it very much. I feel worthless, I hate myself. Please don't kill yourself, I'm begging you," In another recording the principal is heard saying: "To show that I am sorry, I will resign from being the principal. I have also gone to the offices to inform them of my decision. I no longer deserve to be called a teacher. I am a disgrace to teachers,"

GOING AWOL

A source who spoke to ZiMoja said that the principal has promised to support the learner financially when she completes her matric if she does not report the matter to the police. The learner can be heard in the recording responding to the principal saying that she will never set foot again at the school because of his actions. "I can't even look at you because of what you did to me. I trusted you as a principal. I'm disappointed". Currently, it's alleged that the principal has not set his foot at the school. "It is not known where he went and his family is worried. There are those who have told them about what he did to the learner and he is too ashamed to face them. This makes them very worried as they don't know if he is still alive," said a source close to the matter. SGB Chairperson of the school member who introduced himself only as Dlamini said that they are still discussing the matter as SGB and that they have involved the department. "At the moment I do not like to talk about it, when everything is clear about what really happened, I will comment on the matter," he said.

DEPARTMENT NOT AWARE OF THE MATTER

When contacted for comment, spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education Muzi Mahlambi said they will contact the school immediately to find out what transpired. He expressed great concern over the matter. "It is absolutely unbelievable that something as cruel as this can be done by someone who calls himself a teacher. It is very sad to hear that this is the principal of the school," he said. The victim's mother insisted that they will not press charges, but the principal must hand himself over to God and He will be the one to punish him. The parent emphasised that their child will no longer set foot in that school.