Justice for Cwecwe: Rape Accused Principal Pieterse Steps Down

(The Post News)– Principal Jaco Pieterse has officially parted ways with Bergview College in Matatiele amid the rape case allegation of Cwecwe.

On Friday, 28 March 2025, the public took to social media in response to a story of a 7-year-old Cwecwe who was allegedly raped at her school. Pieterse found himself at the center of a nationwide scandal when he was the prime suspect of raping a 7-year-old pupil at Bergview College.

However, the National Prosecuting Authority later dropped all charges, citing a lack of “conclusive evidence” to support the allegations of assault.

In a letter to parents dated July 30, 2025, Bergview College’s board of trustees confirmed that the school had “amicably parted ways” with Pieterse, effective on June 30. According to the board, a detailed statement on this subject will be released in due course. Meanwhile, the board has chosen to appoint Mr. T. Cook as acting principal until December 31, at which point a full-time principal will be appointed according to Bergview College’s recruitment policy.

Following the allegations, Pieterse filed defamation charges against African National Congress Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, and Eastern Cape MEC for Education Fundile Gade for publicly accusing him of raping the child.