A 47-year-old North West teacher accused of raping two students aged 12 and 14 has been postponed until Friday when he will appear before the Wolmaransstad Magistrate's Court. Community members and political parties have been protesting against the teacher's release on bail. The mother of one of the abused learners, who cannot be named, told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that the teacher would give the girl R20 and instruct her not to speak about the ordeal. The teacher would call the child, asking her to help carry books to his office. When the child entered the office, he would kiss and touch her private parts. During the week, he would give the child R20. The aggrieved mother has also appealed to other learners who may have been abused by the teacher to speak out.
The North West Provincial Department of Education has condemned the incidents and expressed sadness. The teacher was arrested last week after the mother of one of the abused learners and the school principal registered cases at the Leeudoringstad police station. The Department of Education has taken a stand against the alleged sexual harassment of the victims and expressed sadness that the victims were allegedly abused by someone who was supposed to safeguard them. The teacher was arrested at the school on Thursday, May 16, and the provincial police commissioner in North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, has condemned the incident.
