Oprah matron case postponed
2008-08-02 08:03
Johannesburg - The trial against a former matron at the Oprah Winfrey leadership academy had been postponed to October, a prosecutor at the Sebokeng Magistrates Court said on Friday.
Public prosecutor Etienne Venter said the first victim had given testimony on Friday but that there was not enough time to continue with the case.
"The matter was remanded to 22, 24, and 28 October for the other five victims to testify," he said.
Tiny Makopo, 27, is accused of indecent assault, common assault, soliciting a minor to perform an indecent act and verbal abuse.
She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The State alleges that Makopo indecently assaulted girls aged 13 and 14 by kissing them with an open mouth, touching their breasts, forcing them to touch her breasts and creeping into their beds and telling them to be lesbians.
She is accused of assaulting a 13-year-old girl by slapping her, pulling her hair, forcing her to sit on a bare floor for 15 minutes and rubbing custard into her hair.
One of the girls was allegedly throttled and told she was so stupid she did not deserve to be at the school.
The court had earlier determined that all six girls would testify in camera as they were too scared to give testimony in public.
- SAPA