Are our children protected at school?

A chalkboard.

That’s what one Grade three pupil in Limpopo associates with sexual assault. She says she was sexually abused when a teacher picked her up to write on a classroom chalkboard. The South African Human Rights Commission is now following up on the allegations.

It’s also looking into other shocking claims as part of its probe into bullying, sexual harassment and corporal punishment at some schools in Limpopo.

Hearings began this week.

The hearings were prompted by the bullying incident of Lufuno Mavhunga. 

The 15-year-old committed suicide a few weeks after a video of her being bullied went viral.

Meanwhile, on Friday a 50-year-old teacher at Mavhunga's former school was arrested for allegedly repeatedly raping a Grade 12 pupil in 2018.

She was 17 at the time.

The provincial head of the South African Human Rights Commission Victor Mavhidula says the problems at schools are far more extensive than they had anticipated.