Durban — The trial date of a high school teacher facing six counts of rape has been set for October.
The 55-year-old man who was employed at a Clermont high school since 2008, appeared in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Monday. He is alleged to have performed sexual acts with three pupils, all aged 17 in 2021, on the school premises. He was arrested in April 2022.
According to the State, the complainants in the matter were all 18 years and older now. Following his arrest in April 2022, the accused was granted bail of R5000 with the condition that he relocate from the jurisdiction of Pinetown.
The accused was granted bail in the district court, where he made numerous appearances before his matter was deemed trial-ready following the completion of investigations, and moved to the regional court which is the trial court.
During his bail application, it emerged that there was a possibility of more victims coming forward; however, as it stands there are still only three complainants in the matter.
The teacher’s trial will be heard over two days in October, and on Monday in court, State Prosecutor Andre De Nysschen said that he anticipated calling three witnesses to testify in the trial. In the interim he would endeavour to consult with them.
In the first count of rape, the teacher allegedly inserted his genital organ into his 17- year-old victim’s genital organ on March 16, 2021, and it was further alleged that he raped her more than once.
In the second count, he is alleged on that same day to have inserted his finger in her genital organ.
In count 3, it is alleged that on January 19, the accused inserted his genital organ into another 17-year-old’s genital organ, where the State alleges that the victim was raped more than once.
And six days after this, it is alleged that the accused inserted his finger into the genital organs of the same victim.
The accused is also charged with exposure of genital organs to a minor where it is alleged that the accused allegedly pulled down his pants showing his privates to the 17-year-old victim at the school.
In February, he is alleged to have inserted his finger into the genital organ of another 17-year-old victim, where it is alleged that the victim was also raped more than once, this is count 6.
He is alleged to have repeated this in March on the same victim.
The accused also faces a charge of sexual grooming of children in relation to another 17-year-old victim.
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