Teacher accused of raping pupils

A SENIOR teacher in the Sundays River Valley area is expected to appear in court today for allegedly raping two primary school children.

The 52-year-old former Port Elizabeth teacher was arrested on Tuesday after two girls – aged 13 and 14 – came forward and cases with the police were subsequently opened.

The man can only be named after he pleads in court.

The name of the school is also being withheld for now.

The arrest came after the second alleged rape attack was reported to police on Monday.

The 13-year-old girl’s guardian had taken her to hospital after she complained that she was not feeling well.

“The doctor did an examination and established that the minor had been raped and had contracted a sexually transmitted disease,” a police official close to the investigation said.

“The matter was reported to the guardian, who alerted the police. The minor was then asked what transpired and she claimed to have been raped [at the school].”

The official said that while police were investigating the case, they were told about another girl, 14, who had allegedly also been raped.

“A follow-up investigation was done and the other teenager also claimed to have been raped early last month.”

Police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge said the details were sketchy at this stage as the children were both still traumatised.

“I can confirm that on Monday two cases of rape were opened by two minors,” he said.

“Both alleged that the rapes [occurred at] the school.

“An employee of the school in question was arrested on Tuesday afternoon when he handed himself over to police.

“The man is due to appear in the Alexandria Magistrate’s Court [today] on two counts of rape.”

Beetge said the specialist Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit from Port Elizabeth was assisting in the investigation.

“A trauma counsellor will be called in to assist with the case and help obtain information from the minors.”

Eastern Cape education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said internal action would be taken.

Asked whether the teacher had been suspended, Mtima said: “All procedures relating to the Labour Relations Act will be followed.”

He said education officials would consult with the teacher after his release.