A 41-year-old Mpumalanga teacher appeared in the KaBokweni Magistrate’s Court on Friday April 19 in connection with the rape of a learner.
A provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, said the teacher, who cannot be named, had first appeared in court on Tuesday April 16 and was remanded in custody.
“On Sunday April 14, a 14-year-old learner was allegedly raped in KaNyamazane. After this incident, the child reported the matter to the mother and a case was opened, followed by an investigation. The case is being investigated by the Family Violence and Child Protection Sexual Offences Unit in KaNyamazane. The suspect was traced and arrested on the same day,” he said.
The matter was postponed to Monday April 29.
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According to the Mpumalanga Department of Education (DoE), the teacher has been suspended pending investigations following his arrest.
The DoE’s spokesperson, Gerald Sambo, said the department is also going to institute internal disciplinary proceedings against the accused.
“Should this educator be found guilty of the crime, his name will be submitted to the South African Council of Educators, and he will not be allowed to work as a teacher anywhere in the country. His name will also be submitted to the National Register for Sex Offenders,” he said.
“The department condemns sexual relations between educators and learners in the strongest terms possible. Section 17 of the Employment of Educators Act 28 prohibits educators from committing sexual or any other form of harassment, which by implication prohibits them from having sexual relations with learners.”
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Sambo said the DoE commends the police for their swift response on this matter.
“We hereby call upon all parents and school communities to urgently report similar incidents to the relevant authorities. The officials from the wellness and inclusive educators have also been deployed to render psychosocial counselling to the victim. The department will continue to provide the necessary support to the learner.”
