Community pledges unwavering support for Parktown boys

NICOLA MILTZ

Numerous members of the Jewish community made a point of being there to show support.

Emotions ran high at the proceedings, as people jostled for space in the packed court house. However, much to the disappointment of the activists supporting the boys, the sentencing of the school’s former waterpolo coach and hostel master, Collan Rex, 22, was postponed until 27 November. Rex was found guilty in September of 12 counts of assault and 144 counts of sexual assault.

Eight of the 23 teenagers who laid complaints against Rex came face to face with their abuser, who stared straight ahead averting eye contact. This time, the boys were surrounded by hordes of supporters who showed up in force to back them.

It has been a long, lonely road to get to this point. The school’s new Headmaster, Malcolm Williams, Deputy Headmaster Kevin Stippel, and a member of the school’s governing body, Kim van Es, were present.

Among numerous activists opposing sexual abuse were members of the Jewish community representing Koleinu SA, Shalom Bayit, and the Union of Jewish Women.

At least 45 minutes away from the north eastern suburbs of Johannesburg in heavy morning traffic, the court sits in the middle of Thokoza and Katlehong. This did not deter social activists in the community from lending their support.

Beverley Milun of Highlands North said, “Every community has issues, and many of us stand up for our own. But if we only do that, then we neglect the community of humanity, and we keep ourselves separated. Because it isn’t our people affected, we don’t get involved.

“But when we stand together for causes outside of our community, then a community of humanity is born; the greater community to which we all belong.”

Michelle Blumenau of Norwood said she felt compelled to lend support after hearing how little support the boys had received after they bravely came forward with their stories of abuse.

She had attended a recent gathering on sexual abuse hosted by Koleinu SA, an organisation offering a helpline for victims of abuse, where the house mistress of the school had appealed to the community to pledge its support for the boys.

“I was horrified to hear about the secondary victimisation these boys have had to endure. It was bad enough that they had to experience the abuse in the first place, but that their own school did not give them the support they needed is shocking. It’s just not good enough. Society needs to support these boys and other victims of abuse,” she said.

The atmosphere in the court was tense as people waited for the delayed proceedings to begin. The mothers of several of the boys who were abused verbally attacked Steve Mabona, the spokesperson of the Gauteng Department of Education, demanding that more needed to be done to safeguard children at the school.

Some called for the school to be shut down and re-opened with a new teaching body. Others bravely called for criminal charges to be laid against several teachers still employed at the school.

The postponement was a disappointment for activists, including members of Bikers Against Bullies, who were eager for the matter to be finalised.

Wendy Hendler of Koleinu SA told the SA Jewish Report that they were hoping that the sentence handed down would be severe, “to send a clear message to perpetrators that abuse will not be tolerated, and that justice will be swift and harsh against those who perpetrate these heinous crimes”.

She said she was pleased by the support from the community.

“We are emboldened by the support from our community, which is showing itself more and more to be a community that supports victims, and the reporting of these crimes.”

Koleinu, Hendler said, tried to raise awareness about the prevalence of abuse in our country, and the need for proper reporting protocols to ensure that justice was served.

“The victims, as in this case, often get re-traumatised by the system. This is why we felt it so important to be here today to show our unwavering support for these courageous boys, their families and supporters, who have walked this hard road with them.”

Her colleague, Rozanne Sack, said, “We are here for them, and admire their unbelievable strength during this difficult time. They are our heroes, and epitomise everything we stand for.”

Sack said it was “incredibly difficult” for victims of child sexual abuse to come forward and expose criminal acts that leave them ashamed and humiliated.

“The victims question themselves, and often hold themselves to blame for what was done to them. Most never tell, and carry the secret to their graves. When children do find the courage to stand up for themselves against strong opposition from the powerful adults in the system, we feel obligated as Jews to back them, not just silently, but powerfully and publicly.”