Three locals appeared in the Mossel Bay Regional Court today, all in separate matters, on charges relating to, among others, possession of child pornography and rape.

The first to appear was a 42-year-old teacher from Park Primary School, in court for a pre-trial conference. He faces 19 charges, including rape and using a child to create pornography. The man was arrested on September 22 last year for incidents alleged to have taken place between 2019 and 2020, involving learners in his Grade 7 class. He is currently out on R15 000 bail.

State prosecutor Advocate Gerda Marx told the court that although the charge sheet currently lists 12 charges, it will be finalised with 19 by November. The man’s legal representative, Jaco Barnard, indicated that his client intends to plead not guilty and will begin negotiations with the state. The matter was postponed to December 9 and 10 for trial, where the state is expected to call nine witnesses, including three expert witnesses. The defence plans to call four witnesses.

The second accused was a 45-year-old man from Bothastrand, Great Brak River. Investigators allegedly found explicit child pornography on his electronic devices. The matter could not proceed as a pre-trial conference today, because the accused’s new representative has to review the material and obtain docket copies as well as receive instructions from the client before moving forward. His R5 000 bail was extended until November 15 for a possible pre-trial conference.

The third to appear was a 25-year-old man from Da Nova, previously reported by the Mossel Bay Advertiser for being accused of possessing 48 child pornography images. A new charge sheet now alleges that 217 images were found. He was arrested on February 2 by the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit and denied bail on May 3 in the Mossel Bay Magistrate’s Court.

His matter was postponed to November 15 for a possible plea agreement.