Rape-accused teacher to remain in custody

A SENIOR teacher arrested earlier this week for the alleged rape of two schoolgirls will remain in custody until his formal bail application next week.

The former Port Elizabeth teacher, who now works at a school in the Sundays River Valley area, appeared in the Alexandria Magistrate’s Court yesterday for allegedly raping two primary school children – aged 13 and 14.

The man can be named only after he pleads in court and the name of the school is also being withheld to protect the identity of the victims.

Police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge said the case had been postponed to Wednesday for a formal bail application.

“The case was also transferred from the Alexandria court to the Paterson Magistrate’s Court,” he said.

According to police, the teacher was arrested after the 13-year-old girl’s guardian had taken her to hospital after she complained she was not feeling well.

A doctor found she had been raped and had contracted a sexually transmitted disease.

Police followed up leads after consulting with her, which then led them to a 14-year-old, who also claimed to have been raped by the teacher.

The specialist Motherwell Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit is investigating the cases.

Provincial Education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said their director of labour relations had received a request to place the teacher on precautionary suspension.

They intended to grant the suspension on an urgent basis.

An internal investigation is under way by the educational development officer, who has already submitted a report.

Mtima said they were arranging for trauma counsellors to support pupils at the school.