LIMPOPO – A 50-year-old teacher from Sibasa, in the Thohoyandou policing area, will appear in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 17 May, to face three counts of rape.
According to a statement by Police Spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo, the teacher was arrested yesterday for the rape of a 17-year-old learner.
“It is alleged that the suspect raped the victim, who was in Gr 12 at the time, on several occasions during 2018. In one of the incidents, he reportedly offered to assist her with extra lessons but instead took her to a lodge where he raped her. He thereafter threatened the child and offered her money to stay silent,” Motlafela explained.
He said the victim eventually opened a case of rape last month, at the Thohoyandou police station. Members of the Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) took over the case and after a lengthy investigation, the teacher was arrested.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe strongly condemned the act of criminality perpetrated against a child.
Meanwhile, Community Safety MEC, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhaya, encouraged people who may have had similar experiences, to come forward and report it.
“I am saddened to learn of the rape of a learner by her teacher; the very same person that we entrust with the safety and the future of our children. I know it took long for the victim to have the courage to speak out but she will soon find justice and heal from the awful experience. I call on other victims to break their silence and speak so that we can root out the scourge in our communities,” concluded Lerule-Ramakhanya.
