Pupil, 15, bust for groping teacher's bum
|Published
PROBE: The Manenberg High teacher, 24, pressed charges against the Grade 9 pupil. PROBE: The Manenberg High teacher, 24, pressed charges against the Grade 9 pupil.
A 15-year-old learner has appeared in court on sexual assault charges for allegedly grabbing his teacher’s bum.
The Grade 9 learner from Manenberg High was rescued by police on Tuesday as an angry mob of pupils threatened to moer him after the incident.
According to a police source, the laaitie put his hand on the 24-year-old teacher’s left buttock and squeezed it and she reported the matter to police.
Principal Cameron Williams confirmed the incident and says he was sitting in his office when he saw a large group of children marching towards the admin block shortly before 11am.
“They were upset and when I walked to see what was happening, I was met by a teacher who told me that the natural sciences teacher was touched inappropriately by a learner,” he says.
“I saw her and she was shaken and crying. After the incident, the learner tried to jump over the fence to get away, but there was Walking Bus patrollers by the fence and he was stopped.
PROCESS: School principal Cameron Williams
“There was a large group of pupils surrounding him and both the boys and girls wanted to hit him.
“At the same time, Manenberg SAPS were conducting a visit and took him away.”
A teacher was sent to the boy’s home and after his mother was informed of the incident, she was taken to the police
station, where he was formally charged.
Police spokesperson Siyabulela Malo says a case of sexual assault has been opened.
“This matter is currently under investigation. Due to its nature, this office is unable to divulge more information as that will hinder the investigation.”
The boy’s angry mother says her son appeared in the Athlone Magistrate's Court on Wednesday and the case was postponed to 25 March.
“I am upset because they didn’t give him a chance to say his side,” says the 33-year-old woman.
“He told me that he did not grab her bum and explained that as he turned around, his hand landed on her bum and before he could explain it was an accident, she ran away crying.
“My child has never given problems at the school.
“When I spoke to the principal, he told me the children were targeting the teacher."
PROBE: The Manenberg High teacher, 24, pressed charges against the Grade 9 pupil.
The mom says the learners allegedly asked the teacher vulgar questions such as “ Wil jy gen*** wees?” and “ Wil jy p*** hê?”
“So what happened to those children?” she asks.
The principal confirmed that a group consisting of four learners was reported for making vulgar statements, but says “disciplinary action was taken against them”.
“We will not tolerate this type of behaviour against teachers and the teacher who was assaulted is too traumatised to work at the moment,” he says.
“Besides the criminal charges, he will also face disciplinary charges by the school.”