A 25-year-old teacher was recently arrested by Parkview police for allegedly raping a 13-year-old learner.
Spokesperson for the Parkview police, Captain Tintswalo Sibeko said the victim alleged that in August last year, she had communicated with the teacher via WhatsApp from home.
“The learner was upset about a personal matter and on communicating this with the teacher, he told her he would be available for her whenever needs be,” said Sibeko.
Apparently, the teacher, attempting to win the learner’s confidence, told her that he was available to her, not just as a teacher, but as a brother, father and boyfriend.
Sibeko said the teacher had escalated his advances and in November last year, he had asked the learner to send him nude photographs of herself.
“In February this year, they had an argument and the learner told the perpetrator that she was too young to have sexual intercourse. “However, they continued to communicate through WhatsApp.”
Sibeko said it had been alleged the teacher then raped the learner on several occasions, when he was supposed to be assisting her with extra martial arts training.
On November 2, Parkview police officials were contacted by the learner’s school to assist with a complaint of alleged rape. A case was opened and the suspect was arrested. “Members of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit were activated and immediately took over the case for further investigation,” Sibeko said.
The suspect will appear in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on charges of rape.
Parkview Police Station Commander Colonel Theledi Gopane condemned crimes perpetuated against children.
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