Rape accused school principal returns to duty station

WINDHOEK: A school principal from Oshakati, who stands accused of raping his 15-year-old daughter, has been allowed to return to his duty station while investigations are ongoing. The 44-year-old man stands accused of raping his biological daughter on various occasions between December 2023 and January 2024, and faces charges of rape and domestic violence. He was granted bail during his first appearance in the Oshakati Magistrate's Court. His return to the school has however sparked an outcry from the community, who want to know why the principal was allowed to return to his duty station while Petrus Ndeulita, a teacher at Hashiyana Primary School, was dismissed after being found guilty of first-degree corporal punishment. The Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture's Executive Director, Sanet Steenkamp, when contacted for comment on Wednesday said the principal was allowed to return to the school after being granted bail. 'The return of the principal to his duty station does not mean that the ministry w ill not take appropriate action. In terms of the procedures, the ministry will investigate the matter, and the due processes of the law will be followed,' she said. Steenkamp said the decision to allow or disallow the accused to return to his duty station is based on several factors, including the severity of the allegations, the need to protect learners, the integrity of the investigation process, and the legal rights of the accused. She further stated that where allegations of this nature are involved, the ministry's standard response involves suspending or temporarily transferring the accused to ensure a safe environment for learners and to facilitate a thorough investigation. The ministry is thus looking into reassigning the accused to a different school while the matter is being addressed in court. The girl and her siblings have meanwhile been transferred to a different school, Steenkamp said. With regards to Ndeulita, Steenkamp explained that the ministry differentiates offences based on their natu re and impact, with both corporal punishment and sexual abuse being taken seriously under public service rules and regulations. 'This case (Ndeulita) proves as clear evidence of misconduct. The case was investigated and the teacher was subsequently charged with misconduct, which led to his dismissal from the public service,' she said. The ministry also stated on Tuesday that Ndeulita's personal record showed he had a history of corporal punishment, which contributed to his dismissal. Teachers and learners in the Oshana Region protested last Friday, demanding the immediate lifting of Ndeulita's dismissal, which they said was unfair. Source :The Namibia News Agency