#JusticeForCweCwe: Anger, protests erupt after seven-year old girl is raped within school premises, suspects include principal and driver

Starting with 4,426 signatures on Thursday, the petition registered 673,564 signatures by Monday morning, illustrating the widespread outrage the case has sparked across South Africa.

The incident allegedly took place in October 2024 when Cwecwe was waiting for transport to pick her up from the private school - as she waited within the school premises, men, suspected to be staff members at the school, ambushed her and subjected her to horrifying sessions of rape.

Initially, the caretaker, principal, and driver were suspects. However, the caretaker and driver have since been cleared after fully cooperating with authorities.

Anger was now directed at the School principal Jaco Pieterse who initially refused to cooperate with the police by refusing to take a DNA sample. He has now been named as one of the three suspects in the case. 

The attack has since ignited national outrage, particularly after the victim’s mother gave a heartbreaking interview in which she revealed her anger at the school’s handling of the case.

Speaking on a podcast, the mother, a survivor of sexual violence herself, claimed the school failed to identify the perpetrator or assist in the investigation. She claimed that instead of offering support or pursuing justice, the school handed her a transfer letter despite no formal request for a transfer being made by the family.

Following the revelations, the school, in the Alfred Nzo West education district, was promptly deregistered by the Eastern Cape department of education. 

South Africa's Education MEC Fundile Gade announced the decision on March 28 , saying the principal’s lack of cooperation with law enforcement led to the deregistration; the school was given 24 hours to respond to the department’s actions.

The case has since sparked widespread support, with celebrities, political parties and citizens coming together to demand justice for Cwecwe. 

Thousands of people have rallied behind the movement, both online and offline, with the hashtag #JusticeforCwecwe flooding social media platforms.

The EFF, too, has taken an active role, writing to the chairperson of the portfolio committee for police to request a briefing on the status of the investigation. 

“The EFF has written to the chairperson of the portfolio committee for police requesting that the department brief the committee on the status of the Cwecwe rape case,” the party said on Twitter.

The popular Jacob Zuma-led uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party also announced its involvement in the movement, stating its Youth League, in collaboration with Justice for SA and the uMkhonto weSizwe Students’ Movement, would participate in a nationwide shutdown in support of #JusticeForCwecwe.

"We urge our members and supporters to join us as we march against this heinous crime,” the party said, calling for a united front against the injustice.

Support for Cwecwe also quickly spread to grassroots movements, with local communities organising protests to demand justice.

The MK Women's League Gauteng detachment, supported by the national MK Women's League, organised a picket in Johannesburg, showing solidarity for the young victim.

Many thousands of people, both men and women, flooded various streets across several South African cities to call for justice an the closure of the Eastern Cape’s Bergview College School.

Among many South Africans countrywide who have been voicing their stance on the matter is media personality Somizi Mhlongo who expressed his support for the “Justice for Cwecwe” campaign, offering to pay legal fees for Cwecwe’s family.

Other celebrities, including popular DJ Zinhle, have also joined the campaign and helped galvanise the movement, drawing attention from beyond South Africa.

South African media reports that police minister Senzo Mchunu and the South African Police Service (SAPS) have reassured the public that they are handling Cwecwe’s case with the utmost seriousness.