News24 | Soweto teacher accused of raping 9-year-old pupil hands himself over to police

Busisiwe Primary School in Zola, Soweto, where a teacher allegedly raped a Grade 4 pupil.

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• A teacher accused of raping a Grade 4 pupil at Busisiwe Primary School in Zola, Soweto, handed himself over to police on Wednesday evening.
• He is expected to appear in the Protea Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on a charge of rape.
• His arrest came after Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile visited the school on Wednesday morning and put the teacher on precautionary suspension.

A teacher accused of raping a 9-year-old pupil in a toilet at Busisiwe Primary School in Zola, Soweto, has handed himself over to police.

The teacher, who cannot be named because he has not yet appeared in court, is understood to have been asked to present himself at the Jabulani police station on Wednesday evening.

Gauteng police spokesperson, Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, confirmed that the teacher had handed himself over and said he would be charged with rape.

“He is expected to appear before the Protea Magistrate’s Court on Thursday,” she said.

The arrest came after Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile visited the school on Wednesday morning and demanded answers. He later put the teacher on precautionary suspension.

Maile said the department was concerned about the allegations and that measures were being put in place to support the victim and the wider school community.

READ | Soweto school demands answers after Grade 4 pupil allegedly raped by ‘model’ teacher

“The pupil must be given special attention to recover academically. She will be supported privately in school,” he said.

Social workers were also providing support to the school community, Maile said.

The teacher was not at school on Wednesday after Zola residents staged protests on Tuesday and on Wednesday morning to demand his arrest.

The incident allegedly took place on 8 October.

The Grade 4 pupil’s aunt, who cannot be named to protect the child’s identity, confirmed the arrest. She said police informed the family that the teacher had handed himself in after officers contacted him.

Gauteng MEC Lebogang Maile visited Busisiwe Primary School on Wednesday morning.

Ntwaagae Seleka/News24

“We are relieved that he has been arrested. We hope the wheels of justice will start grinding. The child remains traumatised by the incident. We hope as time goes by, she will heal,” the aunt said.

School governing body (SGB) chairperson Nomvula Hlongwane said parents were angry and wanted answers after learning that the alleged incident had happened in a school toilet while pupils were changing classrooms.

READ | Father pleads guilty to murder, rape of 4-year-old daughter in Eldorado Park

Hlongwane said the SGB was informed about the incident on Monday night and subsequently sought answers from the principal.

She said the victim’s family had told the SGB that the incident allegedly happened after the pupil indicated that she was going to the toilet and the teacher followed her.

Hlongwane described the teacher as a humble and dedicated employee who had worked at the school for four years. She said he also offered weekend classes to pupils who were struggling academically.

“He loves his children. He is disciplined. However, that doesn’t mean he is guilty or innocent. The court will determine that. This is troubling. The child deserves justice and support,” she said.