Malema to face prosecution over EC school principal rape allegation
EFF leader Julius Malema is set to face prosecution for crimen injuria after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) accepted representations by AfriForum’s private prosecution unit over his public claims that a former school principal raped a seven-year-old girl.
A criminal complaint was opened by Jaco Pieterse, the former principal of Bergview College in Matatiele, Eastern Cape, after Malema allegedly publicly accused him of raping a seven-year-old girl, known publicly as Cwecwe.
The NPA’s subsequent decision specifically confirms an instruction to prosecute Malema on a charge of crimen injuria.
The complaint against Malema stems from statements he made on April 6 2025 at the party’s land reclamation day at the Sophiatown Extreme Park in Johannesburg.
At this event, Malema publicly claimed that a school principal raped a seven-year-old girl and alleged that the principal was being treated differently from other suspects. Malema also suggested that the principal may have committed similar offences in the past.
In its representations, AfriForum argued that Pieterse was never a suspect in the alleged rape.
The letter states that the NPA had publicly confirmed that there was no evidence of rape and that SAPS had stated Pieterse was never a suspect.
The case involving Cwecwe sparked widespread public outrage in 2025 with protests held under the #JusticeForCwecwe banner.
The alleged rape was reported to have taken place at Bergview College in October 2024.
AfriForum said the NPA subsequently decided not to prosecute anyone in connection with the alleged rape.
He referred to Malema’s High Court case against PA deputy leader Kenny Kunene after allegations made by Kunene that Malema was involved in drug dealing and other unlawful activities.
The representations contrasted those allegations with Malema’s own statements about Pieterse.
According to the letter, Malema had described Pieterse as “the principal that raped Cwecwe” and said “it is not the first time he is doing what he did to this little girl”.
Pieterse welcomed the decision, saying the allegations had caused significant harm to him and those close to him.