‘Sex pest’ teacher gets bail Victim’s family left out of proceedings

THE 33-year-old teacher accused of sending his teenage pupil nude pictures over an eightmonth period, was granted bail in the Durban Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

The man made his formal bail application in-camera, despite the media being present for two of his previous appearances.

According to the prosecutor – who declined to give her name to the media – the reason for the matter being heard in-camera was that the victim was a minor.

The girl’s parents were bewildered when the man charged with sexually grooming their 14-year-old daughter walked out of court, into the arms of his friends and family gathered outside the courtroom.

The teacher’s supporters cheered when his legal team exited the empty courtroom.

Prior to the teacher making his appearance yesterday, the matter was moved to three other courtrooms before it was eventually heard in Court 9 after 3pm.

The girl’s father, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his underage daughter, told the Daily News that he was in shock over how they were treated by the State prosecutor handling the matter.

“The behaviour of the court is unacceptable. We came to the court for justice, yet when the matter was being heard in court, we were told to leave.

“We are her parents. Surely, we should have been in court when the investigating officer was giving his statement,” the girl’s father said.

He said when he asked the prosecutor why he and the girl’s mother were not allowed to sit in on the proceedings, he was asked how the prosecutor was to know who the girl’s parents were.

“We were pushed around like sheep from one courtroom to the other with no one explaining why.”

The teacher was granted R6 000 bail, which was paid for by his family.

Relocate

He was expected back in court on June 30, Natasha Ramkissoon Kara, the National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson said.

“His bail conditions are that he must relocate to the Bluff, report to Brighton Beach police station twice a week and is not to interfere or communicate with the complainants or their families,” she said.

The matter was thrust into the spotlight two weeks ago when the father allegedly found messages between the teacher and his daughter.

Some of the messages were reportedly of a sexual nature, with a few including nude images of the teacher.

The pair allegedly began messaging each other in September. The girl was 13 at the time.

The teacher is a well-known playwright and poet, and the matter has gripped communities across the greater Durban area.