Bergview College will remain open while investigations into the sexual assault case that allegedly happened on the school premises last year continue.
This is according to the Eastern Cape Department of Education MEC Fundile Gade, who announced the withdrawal of the notice to deregister the independent school on Wednesday.
The school has been in the spotlight following reports of the sexual assault of a 7-year-old learner that allegedly took place on the school premises.
In its statement on March 28, the department said the school had failed to provide a safe and secure school environment for the learners. The school management was also blamed for the delayed progress and poor handling of the case that was reported in October last year.
The department also raised concerns over the principal’s refusal to cooperate with the South African Police Services (SAPS).
However, MEC Gade made an about turn on Wednesday, just a day after the school management took the department to the Makhanda provincial high court over its decision to deregister the school which they said was irrational, arbitrary and unlawful.
“The Department of Education is now reliant on the Joint Justice Cluster (JJC) to pursue further investigations on the criminal component of the case. It is within this context that the MEC of Education has now waived the temporary revocation of the licence as the school cannot be closed perpetually,” the department said in the statement.
In the JJC are the ministries of Police, Social Development, Justice, Education and other law enforcement entities. The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units have also been deployed to handle the investigations into the case.
Gade was quoted in the statement saying, “I am now hopeful that, as the department, we at least contributed to ensuring the wheels of justice turn fast in favour of Cwecwe and her family.”
This is a developing story.