NPA to oppose bail for teacher accused of raping nine-year-old
Temba faces rape charges involving a nine-year-old learner.
Kabelo Temba (59), a teacher at Busisiwe Primary School, made his first appearance at the Protea Magistrates’ Court on October 22.
Temba faces rape charges involving a nine-year-old learner.
The matter has been postponed to October 29 for a formal bail application.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Magaboke Mohlatlole said the NPA intends to oppose the bail application due to the serious nature of the charge and the fact that it involves a minor.
According to Mohlatlole, Temba is alleged to have raped the learner in the school toilets on October 6.
“The child allegedly disclosed the incident to her mother on the same day, and the matter was reported to the police on October 10,” he said.
Temba handed himself over to the police on October 21.
The NPA views allegations of sexual offences against children in a serious light and remains committed to ensuring that cases involving vulnerable victims are prosecuted with the necessary sensitivity and diligence.
Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Lebogang Maile, attended the court proceedings.
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Maile’s attendance reaffirms the Gauteng Provincial Government’s unwavering commitment to protecting children, women and all vulnerable groups in society, while ensuring that those affected by sexual abuse and gender-based violence receive the necessary government support and protection.
Following his visit to Busisiwe Primary School on October 21, Maile has established a coordinated intergovernmental intervention comprising the Gauteng Departments of Education, Social Development, Health, the South African Police Service (SAPS), and various stakeholders responsible for child protection and wellbeing.
Maile said through this intervention, government is providing the affected learner and her family with comprehensive psychosocial support, trauma counselling, and access to appropriate healthcare services.
He further stated that these interventions are intended to safeguard the learner’s emotional, psychological and physical wellbeing, while ensuring that her dignity, safety and continued education remain protected.
The multidisciplinary intervention further seeks to provide sustained support to the learner and her family throughout the judicial process and beyond, recognising that the protection and recovery of children affected by sexual abuse require coordinated and compassionate government assistance.
MEC Maile maintains that the protection of children is a collective societal responsibility requiring government, families, communities, educators, religious leaders and civil society organisations to work together against child abuse, gender-based violence and the moral decay confronting society.
“Sexual abuse against children and gender-based violence represent a deeply disturbing erosion of the moral values upon which our communities should be built. We must unite as a society to confront this moral decay, restore the dignity of our communities and create an environment where children, women and all vulnerable groups are protected from abuse, exploitation and violence,” MEC Maile emphasised.
The MEC further highlighted the importance of community solidarity in protecting children and restoring the moral fabric of society.
“It takes a village to raise a child, and it equally takes a united village to protect a child. We cannot allow moral decay, sexual violence and the abuse of vulnerable people to become normalised in our communities. We must restore our collective conscience, strengthen family and community values, and stand together against all forms of abuse,” MEC Maile remarked.
MEC Maile has appealed for calm and urged communities to allow law enforcement authorities and the judicial process to unfold without interference or prejudice. The MEC further emphasised that the dignity, privacy and wellbeing of the minor learner must remain paramount throughout these processes.
