Sex-video teacher facing various sexual charges
A TEACHER accused of having sexual relations with school girls at Ekucabangeni High School in Nquthu, KwaZulu-Natal, is facing charges of sexual grooming‚ rape and sexual assault.
The 45-year-old teacher appeared in the Nquthu Magistrates’ Court yesterday and will remain in custody until he formally applies for bail on September 7.
Four more teachers have been suspended for allegedly having sexual relationships with pupils‚ bringing to five the number of teachers implicated in sex scandals with learners at the school.
The teacher was arrested over the weekend‚ and is alleged to have had sex with pupils on multiple occasions. He cannot be named until he pleads to two charges of sexual grooming‚ two counts of rape and one of sexual assault.
He was suspended from his teaching post after graphic video footage of him having sex were circulated on social media.
Six girls came forward to claim the teacher had sex with them after a visit to the school by KwaZulu-Natal education MEC Mthandeni Dlungwane.
The man has reportedly been teaching for 22 years and previously taught in Durban.
According to a report in the Sunday Times‚ one of the women in the videos‚ a 27-yearold‚ said while she was no longer a scholar when the sex tape was made‚ her relationship with the teacher had started while she was at school.
“I was shocked when I learnt about the video and I watched it a little bit. I didn’t know that he was taking a video of us having sex‚” she said.
The video appears to have been shot on a cellphone. Another video‚ which appears to have been filmed by the teacher holding the phone in one hand‚ shows him having sex with a pregnant woman.
Dlungwane‚ who attended the court appearance‚ said he was happy that police were able to apprehend the man.
“We are glad that this matter will now be handled by court of law‚” Dlungwane said.
A lawyer representing the teacher has previously denied‚ in media reports that the videos portrayed school girls‚ saying the women were all adults.
“We have learners who have come forward to say they had a sexual relationship with the teacher. We are confident because the information and evidence that we have is supported. We are doing further investigations at the school. Our preliminary investigation has shown that a further four teachers have been implicated. We have taken a decision to suspend them‚” said Dlungwane.
He said the department would continue to stand against the abuse of learners‚ especially young female learners‚ by teachers who are supposed to be parent figures and protect them.
“We will do whatever is in our power to ensure we protect these learners‚” he said.
The South African Council of Educators is also investigating claims that the 45-year-old teacher was accused of the same offence at Mgazi High School‚ also in Nquthu.