Dbn pupils lay rape charges

2009-05-20 09:22

Durban - A 19-year-old pupil has laid a charge of rape against one of five teachers accused of sexual misconduct at Makhumbuza High School in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Wednesday.

Superintendent Buhle Ngidi said another five female pupils had laid statutory rape charges against the other teachers.

The allegations against the teachers surfaced on April 24 when a group of female pupils reported to education authorities that fellow pupils were frequently having sex with teachers in the school's science laboratory in exchange for money and alcohol.

There were claims that some of the girls were romantically involved with the teachers, while one pupil had dropped out of the school after allegedly being impregnated by a teacher.

The KwaZulu-Natal education department subsequently suspended the teachers on full pay, pending the outcome of an investigation.

On Tuesday the province's education MEC Senzo Mchunu said the case had tainted the image of the teaching profession and was an "embarrassment" to the department.

Police on Wednesday said the 19-year-old pupil claimed she was asked by a teacher to carry some files to the laboratory where he forced himself on her.

Ngidi said after the act, the teacher sent the pupil home, requesting that she have a bath before returning to school.

Ngidi said the alleged incident took place in August last year but a rape charge was only laid two weeks ago, after the school came under the spotlight.

Meanwhile, a recommendation was made in a preliminary report by the investigation team that the suspended teachers be charged with misconduct.

Education department spokesperson Mbali Thusi said the department had set up an independent prosecution team to act on the findings and recommendations of the preliminary investigation.

"The findings of the preliminary report were based on information and details obtained through written and verbal statements from 13 girl learners," she said.

The pupils were between the ages of 16 and 21.

Mchunu said he was unable to "zoom" into specifics outlined in the preliminary report as it was at a "very sensitive stage".

"We are keen on finalising this case speedily as we need to put the interests of the concerned learners first," he said on Tuesday after the recommendation was made.

"I am confident that the independent prosecution team will carry out the task at hand with utmost integrity and within the ambit of the law in concluding this case, which has tainted the teaching profession and (created) a huge embarrassment to the department as a whole."

- SAPA