Girl testifies against teacher
2003-05-09 08:00
Bloemfontein - A teacher who was a "father figure" for many pupils at a Bloemfontein high school, advised a teenaged girl, who was "confused" over her sexuality, to sleep with a boy and to ask a girl to "teach" her. That way, she would know.
The once "confused" girl testified in court on Thursday that Japie Britz, a former teacher at Sand du Plessis High School, often told her that her moral standards were too high.
He allegedly told her that it did not matter whether it was a boy or a girl or himself that explored her body, she only had to enjoy it.
Britz, who was the deputy principal at De Wet Nel Technical School in Kroonstad and then principal of Bothaville High School, is standing trial for the alleged sexual assault of the girl in May 2002. He has denied all charges.
Since the end of last year, he no longer teaches at Sand du Plessis.
The girl testified that she became friends with Britz, "a very popular teacher whom everyone liked", because of her confusion over her own sexuality.
Personal, intimate things
The parent-pupil relationship became a father-daughter relationship and then a friendship where they "told each other everything", she told the Bloemfontein regional court.
He took her to a psychologist to talk about her "sexuality problem", where she was told that it was just a phase. He paid for the session.
One night in May 2002, he told her "personal, intimate things" about his life and he indecently assaulted her in his car, she claimed.
In his plea explanation, Britz admitted that he kissed her and fondled her breasts over her shirt. He said she stroked his chest under his shirt. "I realised with a shock that the situation was getting out of hand and stopped it," he said.
The girl testified that she became depressed afterwards and had nightmares. Every time she saw him, she relived the incident.
"I told my parents, who were not aware of the friendship, and they told the principal.
"I did not want to file a charge initially because I did not want to taint my reputation.
"It was hell to go to school.
My life wasn't worth anything anymore. I wanted to commit suicide."