Top school staffer arrested for allegedly raping boy
A Makhanda triathlete, who is also a staff member at the St Andrews College (SAC), has been arrested on allegations of raping a seven-year-old schoolboy from another school, reports News24.
In a letter to parents, penned by St Andrews headmaster Tom Hamilton, the school stated that the alleged sexual offences had happened at a private, off-campus residence.
Hamilton added that the school had been informed about the incident over the weekend and that police had arrested the staff member on Sunday.
Eastern Cape police confirmed that a 49-year-old man was arrested and had briefly appeared in the Makhanda Magistrate's Court on Monday, facing charges of rape.
He will remain in custody and will apply for bail on 7 August.
Meanwhile, damning allegations against a senior teacher at a top Pietermaritzburg school that range from sexual harassment, intimidation, nepotism and misconduct have been detailed in court documents.
These allegations have prompted the filing of an urgent interdict to have the teacher removed by the school governing body (SGB).
According to the SGB, a ‘loyal, distinguished and highly-respected pillar of the school’ was suspended without insight into the allegations or charges.
In the statement, the SGB reassured parents that the matter of this staff member’s suspension was receiving urgent attention from the SGB and legal team.
The Citizen reports that the SGB has prepared an urgent KZN High Court (Pietermaritzburg) interdict to have the teacher removed which details allegations against him.
According to the application, the relationship between the senior teacher, staff members, senior staff members and the SGB had deteriorated to such an extent that the normal running and administration of the school had become completely dysfunctional.
The teacher is accused of sexual harassment, verbal abuse, victimisation and intimidation of staff members.
The court papers detail allegations that he made sexual remarks to female staff members as well as ‘inappropriate behaviour on school trips, including excessive drinking and smoking in front of learners, verbal abuse towards staff members, screaming at staff members, throwing files at staff members, emotional blackmail and badmouthing staff members behind their backs’.
The urgent application has been set down for tomorrow.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
