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'At first, the applicant indicated that he quit his job in order to accommodate the victim and to avoid being in the same school with her.'
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A former Limpopo teacher accused of raping a 13-year-old learner will remain behind bars after he was denied bail.
The 58-year-old man appeared in by the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday to hear the outcome of his bail application.
Although the accused maintained that he was not a flight risk and would not interfere with state witnesses, Magistrate Venus Makhuvele found inconsistencies in the statements he made during the bail proceedings.
“There is contradictory statement in this regard. At first, the applicant indicated that he quit his job in order to accommodate the victim and to avoid being in the same school with her.
“On the other hand, he cited the issue of him wanting to pursue his ancestral calling as the reason for his resignation.
“It is clear that this issue of his ancestral calling only came about after the applicant learned about the charges against him,” she said.
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Makhuvele concluded that the accused had not demonstrated any exceptional circumstances that would justify his release on bail.
“The applicant, in my view, has failed to discharge the onus placed on him in terms of seeking 60(11)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Act.
“Therefore, bail is dismissed and since your bail application is dismissed accused you are to remain in custody.”
The matter has been postponed to 20 June for a trial date.
Arrest and case background
The 58-year-old was arrested on 31 March after evading authorities.
He is accused of raping a 13-year-old student from a primary school in the Capricorn South Education District on multiple occasions between November 2024 and 7 March.
The matter surfaced on 27 March when another teacher took the learner to her mother and disclosed the alleged abuse.
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A rape case was then opened for investigation. Following this, the former teacher fled.
According to the South African Police Service (Saps), the accused pretended to be heading to the police station but instead drove away in his car.
He later claimed to be in Hammanskraal, Pretoria, but could not be contacted as his phone was switched off.
The Limpopo Department of Education later confirmed that the accused has resigned from his position.
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