Guard had sex with pupil

PRETORIA: The 24-year-old school guard, accused of sexually molesting a Pretoria secondary school pupil, was found having sexual intercourse with the pupil at a matric dance, Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said yesterday.

“The report that we received indicated that when educators did a headcount or when they were looking for the learner, they were told where she could be. It looks like the guard had arranged a separate venue, closer to where the matric ball was being hosted.

“When the teachers went there, the report I got is that they caught the guard in the act,” Lesufi said, addressing journalists at the school in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria.

“Why he later denied (it), is what our investigation team will work on. That is the part which shocked me. I don’t want to cast aspersions on the learner. The reality is that someone (the guard) was not supposed to be there, he was there and we now know he committed an act that is completely unacceptable.”

Regarding widespread rumours that the 17-year-old pupil was involved in a love affair with the guard and that the sex was consensual, Lesufi said he was not an authority on that aspect.

“We have received that information, that there is an element to portray it as consensual sex and that it was a boyfriend and girlfriend relation – I’m not fit to argue that.

“We have also received information that there are two other girls accused of being in relationships with the (same) guard. Our full investigation will verify that information,” he said after a meeting the school management, political parties and community members.

Lesufi said information had also emerged that the guard had numerous love affairs with pupils at a school where he previously volunteered.

Lesufi narrated the circumstances, which led to the sexual intercourse between the security guard and the pupil.

“The principal has reported that the school left on September 29, for a matric ball at a Bronkhorstspruit lodge. The event started around 9pm and came to an end around midnight. It was around 2am that something happened and they (teachers) interviewed the learner, but she said nothing had happened,” Lesufi said.

“Of great concern is that the CPF (community policing forum) patroller was not invited to be part of the school activity.

“When he was politely asked by the principal what he was doing there (at the matric ball), he said he had asked for permission from his brother and he had borrowed a car to attend the event.”

Lesufi said when the school term resumed, the principal called the pupil to her office and the pupil spilt the beans.