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Principal allegedly shielded accused sex pest teacher, court reveals
Principal allegedly shielded accused sex pest teacher, court reveals

IOL News

time6 days ago

  • IOL News

Principal allegedly shielded accused sex pest teacher, court reveals

The principal of Harvester Primary School is under investigation after she allegedly obstructed and defeated the ends of justice. Image: Supplied The principal of Harvester Primary School is under investigation after she allegedly obstructed and defeated the ends of justice following the arrest of a former teacher for sexual grooming of a child and exposing a child to explicit material. Police spokesperson, FC van Wyk, said: 'This office can confirm that a criminal case docket is being investigated in which the school principal is the subject. The charges as outlined by the Directorate of Public Prosecution are obstructing and defeating the ends of justice and contravention of Section 54 of Sexual Offences Act 32 of 2007 - failing to report that a child is a victim of sexual offence.' The investigation follows after the 35-year-old former Grade R teacher was caught after she allegedly sent an explicit video of herself to a Grade 7 learner. She is currently appearing in the Mitchells Plain Magistrate's Court on charges of sexual grooming of a child and exposing a child to explicit material. The court previously heard a testimony from the investigating officer in the case, Warrant Officer Roland Peters, who said the case was reported to Lentegeur police station on June 9. The court heard that he went to the school on June 10, when the principal allegedly said she was made aware of the allegations by a concerned parent of an explicit dirty video sent by the teacher on June 4. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Peters said the principal went to the house of the victim on June 6 to collect the cellphone to gather evidence on the allegations, however, the court heard that she did not report the matter to SAPS but rather the Western Cape Education Department (WCED). Peters said she told him she felt it was not her responsibility to report it to the police as she had already informed the WCED. The court heard that on June 12, Peters returned to the school and informed the principal that they were going to arrest the teacher; however, she informed them that the teacher was doing administration work at the WCED regional offices. She then informed police officials to meet her at the WCED regional offices. Peters said: 'We waited for a half an hour and the principal did not arrive. We then entered the building and we spoke to the manager who informed us that he had just returned back from dropping off the [teacher] at a family member's house in Strandfontein. He was given information by the principal to remove [the teacher] from the premises as there was protest action… From there we proceeded to the Strandfontein address, but did not find the teacher.' The court heard that police officials were given an address in Athlone where they found the accused at her home and arrested her. The matter against the principal is still under investigation while the teacher is awaiting her bid for bail. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. Cape Argus

Pressure mounts for Principal charges in Harvester Primary School teacher scandal
Pressure mounts for Principal charges in Harvester Primary School teacher scandal

IOL News

time03-07-2025

  • IOL News

Pressure mounts for Principal charges in Harvester Primary School teacher scandal

A Harvester Primary School teacher faces charges of sexual grooming and exposing a learner to explicit material. Image: Kim Swartz/Independent Newspapers As parents for Equal Education question whether the Harvester Primary School principal will be among more people charged in the case of the teacher accused of sending explicit videos to a Grade 7 learner, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said all protocol has been followed. The former Grade R teacher, who resigned when the scandal broke, is expected to make her next appearance in the Mitchell's Plain Magistrate's Court on Thursday for her formal bail application. She faces charges of sexual grooming of a child and exposing a child to explicit material Vanessa le Roux, from Parents For Equal Education, said they questioned why the principal did not face charges. 'Why is the principal not arrested yet? 'The DPP (Directorate of Public Prosecution) initiated the charges after obtaining statements from the mother, grandmother, and principal. 'The DPP initiated charges against the principal, and the charge is defeating the ends of justice. "While on the phone with the investigating officer (last Thursday) morning, he explained to me that they are still waiting for the docket to come back from the prosecutor. 'This also exposes the lies of the WCED, when they say the principal did what she was supposed to do. 'The only duty on her was reporting the matter to SAPS and the WCED. "She is not a police woman, what business did she have getting into her car, and demanding the victim's cellphone. 'We are not playing about the lives of our children anymore, no one is above the law, even if I have to elevate that question to a national level.' But Bronagh Hammond, spokesperson for the WCED, said protocol was followed. 'We are aware of the allegations made by Ms Le Roux, which the principal denies and the police are investigating,' she said. 'An affidavit detailing the exact timelines and the processes followed has been sent to the South African Police. 'Sadly, there have been many false facts communicated by various parties in this case. We therefore wait on SAPS to complete their processes before jumping to any conclusions or making potentially libelous statements in public. 'We cannot comment further at this point.' The Department of Justice said it was for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to comment on while the NPA said it was a police matter. Earlier, the investigating officer took the witness stand during the bail application where he informed the court of how the teacher allegedly instigated conversations on TikTok with the 13-year-old learner. It was also further revealed that prior to allegedly sending the learner an explicit video of herself, she requested him to send a video of himself. He sent one in return of himself and his younger brother playing video games. The detective also testified that when the accused realised that she had sent the video and could lose her job, she asked the boy to delete it and that he asked her for a R500 for it to be erased. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. Cape Argus

Mitchells Plain teacher accused of sexual grooming seeks bail
Mitchells Plain teacher accused of sexual grooming seeks bail

IOL News

time24-06-2025

  • IOL News

Mitchells Plain teacher accused of sexual grooming seeks bail

WAITING BAIL The Grade R teacher said she intends to plead not guilty. Image: Kim Swartz A former Grade R teacher at Harvester Primary School returned to court on Monday, where it was heard that she could be released on bail as there isn't a likelihood that she would undermine the criminal justice system. The teacher, who cannot be named until she has pleaded, proceeded with her bail application in the Mitchells Plain Magistrate's Court, where she faces charges of sexual grooming of a child and exposing a child to explicit material. The court heard testimony from the investigating officer in the matter, Warrant Officer Roland Peters, who told the court that the 35-year-old accused had allegedly instigated conversations on TikTok with the 13-year-old Grade 7 learner. Peters said: 'The contents of the messages on TikTok where the accused instigated contact with the complainant asking if the boy is the same person at school, and the boy said yes. The accused requested that the boy call her by her first name after he referred to her as ma'am because it makes her feel old. The messages said 'don't f**king call me ma'am call me [by my name]'. The accused indicated that she is not a strict teacher and said on the chat he can relax with her. The conversation then switched over to WhatsApp.' This follows after the victim asked the teacher for her number because he allegedly has a good relationship with many teachers and wanted to grow his contact list. The detective said the boy confirmed that he received an explicit video of the teacher wearing provocative clothing exposing her breasts and her face can be seen clearly. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The court heard that prior to her sending the video she requested that the boy send her a video and he sent a video of him and his younger brother playing video games. Peters also said the accused realised that after she sent the video that she could lose her job and asked the minor to delete it, however, he asked her for R500 for it to be erased. He then later dropped the payment as she said "her life is already over". The State said they are opposing her bail as the accused was in a possession of authority entrusted to care for minors, as well as public outrage surrounding the case, and strong media following. However, the accused's legal representative argued that she gave her full cooperation during her arrest, handed her cellphone in for investigation, is not a flight risk, that she would not commit the offence again and is a first time offender. The magistrate said that given that she would not undermine the proper functioning of the criminal justice system, she questioned why she should remain in custody.

Grade R teacher arrested for allegedly sending explicit images to learner
Grade R teacher arrested for allegedly sending explicit images to learner

IOL News

time13-06-2025

  • IOL News

Grade R teacher arrested for allegedly sending explicit images to learner

Angry parents protested outside Harvester Primary School. Image: Kim Swartz A 35-year-old Grade R teacher at Harvester Primary School in Westridge, Mitchell's Plain, resigned and has been arrested after she allegedly sent a Grade 7 learner text messages and videos of a sexual nature. Angry parents protested outside the school on Thursday, demanding answers after the shocking reports came to light this week. According to reports, the principal requested the minor's phone be handed in on June 7, which revealed that the teacher allegedly sent the Grade 7 learner explicit nude images and videos. Zayaan Abrahams, who has two children at the school, said the reason she and other parents protested was due to them waiting on answers from the school's principal. "We are here because a Grade R teacher has sent porn videos, we would say porn videos because she is advertising her breast to a Grade 7 learner and we want to know what is being done," Abrahams said. Parents and residents were outside the school from 8am to 11am without getting answers and said they intended to bring a petition to demand the school's principal and deputy step down. Loreza Allies, whose child is in the same class as the teacher, said parents were informed of the incident on June 10, however, the matter became known to the school last week. Allies added: 'We want answers from the school. Why did none of them phone us or call the Grade R parents to sort it out?" Zayaan Abrahams a parent wants answers on the learners safety. Image: Kim Swartz After the parents left at around 11am, news broke of the teacher's arrest and the School Governing Board (SGB) issued a statement that they are aware of the allegations of sexual abuse/grooming against the minor. The SGB said: 'The SGB and Western Cape Education Department (WCED) adopt a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of abuse. The educator was in the employ of the SGB and not the WCED and has resigned with immediate effect. The matter will be referred to the South African Council of Educators (SACE) for further handling. A criminal charge has been laid, and due process will follow.' Police spokesperson, FC van Wyk, said Lentegeur police opened a sexual harassment case which was transferred to the Mitchell's Plain Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for investigation. 'A 35-year-old suspect was arrested at a premises in Athlone on June 12 at 11am. 'She was provisionally charged in terms of the Sexual Offences Act, causing a child to be exposed to pornography. 'The suspect is currently being processed where after she will appear in the Mitchell's Plain Magistrate's Court,' said Van Wyk. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. Cape Argus

GBV activist alarmed by sexual harassment case involving teacher at Mitchells Plain school
GBV activist alarmed by sexual harassment case involving teacher at Mitchells Plain school

Eyewitness News

time12-06-2025

  • Eyewitness News

GBV activist alarmed by sexual harassment case involving teacher at Mitchells Plain school

CAPE TOWN - Gender-based violence (GBV) activist, Caroline Peters, said the sexual harassment case involving a woman teacher at Harvester Primary School in Westridge, Mitchells Plain was alarming. The teacher is accused of sending inappropriate text messages, as well as explicit images and videos of herself, to a Grade 7 pupil. Both the police and the provincial education department are probing the matter. It's reported that the teacher and the schoolboy started interacting on social network platform TikTok, before moving communication to WhatsApp. Peters said that she welcomed the steps taken by both the police and the education department. "We must be absolutely clear this is not a case of inappropriate messaging, this is grooming, digital sexual exploitation and an abuse of both power and trust. The fact that the contact began via TikTok and then moved to WhatsApp shows how vulnerable our children are in online spaces, and how quickly exploitation can happen even by those who are meant to protect them."

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