Teacher made to face court for molesting a Grade 5 learner

AS THE world celebrated International Teacher’s Day, a family were in court because their daughter was molested in school – allegedly by a teacher.

The 12-year-old’s friends were overheard chatting about what happened.

They said the teacher allegedly inserted his finger in her private part at a primary school close to Milnerton.

The incident happened on June 23 and the conversation with the Grade 5 learner’s friends was two weeks ago.

A community leader, Vuvu Mukumela, said: “This happened on the school premises, the girl never spoke about the incident, she was hiding it.

“Two weeks ago, she was speaking to her two friends who were there when the teacher called her to the classroom. Someone overheard the two friends talking about it and then approached them.

“The lady asked the friends to show her the victim’s mom and she reported it and then (the matter) was taken to the police and the teacher was subsequently arrested. Yesterday, he appeared in Cape Town Magistrate’s Court for a bail application.

“We don’t care if he’s going to get bail or not, but we as the community don’t want him at the school because our children are not safe around him.”

The case was postponed to this morning for bail application judgment.

Ilitha Labantu spokesperson Siya Monakali said: “As an organisation that’s advocated for the rights of women and children for over 34 years, Ilitha Labantu is deeply saddened to hear of the rape of a 12-year-old Grade 5 pupil.

“It is sad that incidents of this nature go undetected in our schools, and even more worrying is the fact that our schools have become places where our children are not safe.

“We appeal to our justice system to impose the harshest sentence on the accused, and stronger appeals are made to the Department of Education to ensure that the child receives the necessary care they deserve.

“It is sad that our schools are synonymous with violence and abuse.”

Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Millicent Merton confirmed the incident. We can confirm that the matter was reported to the WCED. Sexual harassment, sexual assault and all other forms of abuse are simply not tolerated by the WCED and such allegations are regarded in a serious light and acted upon.”