Sodomy-case teacher loses bail

2005-12-12 19:25

Riot Hlatshwayo

Malamulele - A Limpopo teacher accused of sodomising a teenage boy and bribing him with answers to an exam paper lost his bail on Monday because he apparently tried to bribe the boy again.

This time, he's accused of offering the 15-year-old R520 to withdraw the sexual-assault charges.

The teacher, who can't be named because he hasn't been asked to plead yet, teaches at a high school near Malamulele.

His bail was revoked in Malamulele magistrate's court when the teenager's mother complained to the police about the second alleged bribe.

Police took statements from the boy and his mother before referring the matter to the public prosecutor.

The teacher was called to the prosecutor's office on Monday morning and tried to run away when he realised what was up.

Police found him an hour later in Malamulele township.

The alleged sodomy was uncovered only when fellow teachers became suspicious of the boy's almost-perfect exam marks.

Face dismissal and blacklisting

The school suspected cheating, and launched an internal inquiry. When they confronted the boy, he told them he'd been sodomised and given the answers in return.

The 40-year-old teacher is scheduled to appear in court on either Tuesday or Wednesday in connection with the bribe allegation.

He is scheduled to appear in connection with the sexual-assault case on Wednesday.

Limpopo's education spokesperson Ndou Mangala has previously warned that teachers who get sexually involved with pupils face dismissal and blacklisting. - African Eye news Service

- African Eye