A GRADE 7 girl pupil from Echibini Junior Secondary School in Soshanguve in Tshwane has been raped and strangled to death.
The Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane said he was deeply saddened to have learnt about a gruesome incident which allegedly took place in the early hours on Sunday, 17 December.
He said according to the information at their disposal, the perpetrator allegedly trespassed the pupil’s home in Soshanguve by entering through a window, and reportedly raped and strangled the girl to death.
"It's alleged that her parents were sleeping in the other room, and only realised what took place in the morning when they wanted to wake her up," he said.
"We are devastated at the occurrence of this gruesome incident. We wish to extend our deepest condolences to the learner’s family and school community at large. We are hopeful that law enforcement agencies will work speedily to bring the perpetrator to book,” said Chiloane.
He said police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident.
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Meanwhile the Gauteng Department of Education wishes to update the public that over 5 000 late applications for Grade 1 and Grade 8 were recorded on the 2024 Online Admissions system on Monday, 18 December 2023.
And as of Monday afternoon, the Online Admissions system has managed to process a total of 5 717 late applications, this equates to a total of 2 656 grade 1 applications and 3 061 applications.
"It must be noted that these applicants received immediate placement at available schools," said the department.
"We further wish to reiterate to parents applying during the late applications period that only schools with space to accommodate learners in the 2024 academic year will be available on our system. Parents must apply to only one of the presented schools, and they will receive automatic placement at the school they select," he said.
He said they have noted that there are parents who are not pleased with the placement offers they received during the previous application period, and have tried to apply during the late application period.
Unfortunately, the system will not allow them to apply again.
He said to they have processed a total of 2 670 objections from the 2 671 received, and have processed 1 734 appeals from the 2 208 received.
Only a total of 13 921 applicants with incomplete applications remain to be placed from the initial 32 795.
“The progress we have made with placements is remarkable, considering that we are a month away from the beginning of the new academic year. We are confident that all late applicants and unplaced applicants will receive placements well in time for the start of the 2024 academic year,” said Chiloane.
He said late applications will close on 31 January 2024. Chiloane said to apply, visit www.gdeadmissions.gov.za. Documents must be submitted physically to schools once the academic year begins on 17 January 2024.
