Charlene Smith
The teacher alleged to have raped at least one child at a Johannesburg high school had similar allegations levelled against him at a primary school five years ago.
Last week the Mail & Guardian reported that Queens High School is refusing to suspend the teacher who has been accused of raping a 14-year-old girl.
The teacher appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court last week but was not formally charged.
The Gauteng Department of Education is conducting its own inquiries into the matter, and has broadened the ambit to include two other schools where the teacher previously taught.
An investigation was launched into the teacher by departmental authorities after children complained to another teacher at IH Harris school in Doornfontein, where he taught from 1991 to 1995.
IH Harris principal Mike Pretorius said he was aware of allegations at the time but in terms of regulations pertaining then, investigations were conducted at departmental level. The teacher resigned.
However, the principal at Forest High school, Lynette Lourens, said that she was aware of no improprieties when the teacher taught at her school.
The teacher is presently on leave while police investigate the rape allegation.
Gauteng Premier Mbazhima Shilowa and Gauteng MEC for Education Ignatius Jacobs have expressed personal concern and are being kept abreast of investigations.
Lebelo Maloka, Gauteng education media liaison officer, said Jacobs has requested progress reports on the matter from the child protection unit of the South African Police Service.
He noted, however, that the education department’s hands were tied somewhat by the fact that the teacher had been employed by the school governing body and not the department.
”That puts some limitation in terms of our involvement, but we are taking the matter seriously and as soon as we have finalised inquiries we will decide the course of action.”
l The teacher’s lawyer has pointed out to the Mail & Guardian that no further allegations of rape are being investigated against the teacher at Queens High. What is being investigated is the teacher’s alibi.
The lawyer added that the allegations against the teacher are ”vehemently denied”.
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