28 Apr 2019

Female students from Patikwane Junior Secondary School live in fear of a gang of boys from Paje and Mabeleapodi villages who force them to strip naked whilst the perpetrators shoot videos and photographs, a Paje resident has claimed.

The resident, Mr Boatametse Motshweneng reporting the matter to the Serowe North MP, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse during a kgotla meeting recently.  

He narrated how the gang grabbed school girls between Paje and the school, whisked them away to the water tank that supplied Paje, a few metres from the road, and forced them to strip naked whilst the perpetrators took turns shooting photographs and videos.

Mr Motshweneng sought assistance for the committee that patrol the area for the safety of the girls with ways to identify themselves to avoid roping in even those who harbour intentions of sexually abusing the girls. He also made a call for the residents to help in the safety of the girls.

In a side interview, Mr Motshweneng said the incidents happened twice at the same place.
He also added that in some instances the gang members would rob students of their cash and failure to produce cash would earn students some battering from perpetrators.

On other issues, some residents reported the poor state of students’ hostels at Patikwane school alleging that the situation might get very unpleasant with winter knocking.

The hostels are reportedly without window glasses in many instances. Also, it was reported that there were very few usable mattresses at the school hostels.

When responding to the allegations of sexual abuses, Sub Inspector Kebaabetswe Phaladze of Serowe Police said his station was not aware of the said claims and would relay them to his superiors.

“Unfortunately I neither can deny nor confirm the allegations,” said Mr Phaladze about the reported sexual transgressions.

However, Sub Inspector Phaladze wondered why the residents did not engage police officers at their village.

As for the hostel situation, an official from Ministry of Basic Education, Ms Kgalalelo Phuthego informed residents that a team of officers had visited Patikwane School and would compile a report that would inform their next move.  ENDS