Former Pretoria teacher accused of raping learner gets bail
The learner was between 10 and 11 years old when the alleged sexual activities took place.
A former Pretoria east school teacher charged with the rape of a Grade 5 learner has been released on R10 000 bail.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Pretoria spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the former teacher (34) appeared in the Pretoria magistrate’s court accused of rape, sexual assault and sexual grooming.
“It is alleged that when the man was employed as a teacher at the school between 2017 and 2018, he raped, sexually assaulted and sexually groomed the Grade 5 learner during swimming lessons and extra tuition.”
Mahanjana said at the time the learner was between 10 and 11 years old.
“It is alleged that the child only realised that what was done to her was wrong after she attended sexual offence classes in 2019.
“Thereafter it is alleged that the child started to misbehave, and turned to self-harm by cutting herself.”
The mother noticed the behavioural changes and asked the child what was wrong.
“The child disclosed what had happened and her mother took her to a social worker in 2019. The child was later referred to a forensic social worker in 2023.
A case was opened at a police station in Cape Town then transferred to Brooklyn police station.”
Mahanjana said the accused asked to be released on bail because he had no previous conviction or pending case.
He also told the court that he cooperated with the state by handing himself over to the police when he realised they were looking for him. He also handed in his passport.
“The state however opposed his application and told the court that should he be convicted, he faced a long jail term.”
It also argued that since he had no assets in South Africa and was unemployed he was a flight risk and would be difficult to trace him since he skip the country.
The court granted him bail with conditions that he report to his closest police station three times a week, and not interfere directly or indirectly with state witnesses.
The matter was postponed to March 27, for further investigation.
The accused was remanded to Kgosi Mampuru prison.
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