3 more accuse teacher of rape
2004-06-24 19:21
Bushbuckridge - Three more girls have come forward with claims that a high-school teacher raped them.
This follows his arrest on Wednesday on charges of raping a 14-year-old girl in MP Stream village near Thulamahashe in Limpopo.
His arrest prompted a community march to Nyamande High School on Thursday.
Residents submitted a memorandum to the education circuit inspector and demanded that the teacher be suspended from work.
"We also want the school to be investigated for a string of allegations, including corrupt and frequently absent teachers," said Themba Sithole who represented the community during the march.
"The teachers' absence from school is destroying our children's morale."
Circuit inspector Nelson Mbowane promised to forward the memorandum to the authorities.
Teacher to appear in court
Sithole said there were three more girls who were expected to report the teacher to the police for raping them.
Four girls were allegedly raped on June 12 but only one laid rape charges against the teacher.
Captain Moatshe Ngoepe said the teacher was to appear in Mhala magistrate's court on Friday, instead of Thursday, to give police time to investigate the other girls' claims.
Provincial education spokesperson Rapule Matsane said the department was waiting for a report from the local circuit about the incident.
He said if the teacher was convicted, the department would recommend to the South African Council of Educators (Sace) that the man be struck off the teacher's roll.
He said the department would also investigate the complaints about teacher absenteeism and corruption.