Disturbing evidence of how East London ex-teacher Neil Pieter le Roux, 67, tried to lure a teenage girl into an inappropriate relationship using a dark, sexually charged and manipulative fantasy was heard in court yesterday.
The girl testified in camera in the East London Magistrate’s Court in the trial of the former Grade 7 primary school teacher who is accused of sexually grooming her.
The schoolgirl told regional magistrate Ignatius Kitching she first met Le Roux when she became a pupil in his class at a top East London school.
She said he hugged every girl in the class but “grew increasingly inappropriate” around her.
Yesterday – the fourth day of his rape, sexual assault and sexual grooming trial – she said Le Roux spent more time with her in and outside the school before resigning when the allegations against him emerged. He sometimes gave her a lift home and would take a longer route. On the way he touched her inappropriately.
She said Le Roux would stop and buy her a milkshake and they would sit in his car and talk.
She said he told her he wanted something from her “that he could remember in the next 20 years”.
“Can I please highlight this with what he told me,” the girl asked Kitching, who replied: “Yes, go ahead.”
“He told me our relationship was like a deep dark pool in the middle of the forest and that in this pool there are different shells with gold coins in them and the deeper you go the more you could get, and that you couldn’t reach the bottom of the pool.
“He used to say I was standing on the edge of the pool looking in, and I was too scared to dive in and because of this I couldn’t reach my full potential,” the girl said, breaking down.
After she had composed herself she said Le Roux later added to the picture by saying she was too scared to do anything more with him.
“He said if I was never brave enough to connect with him, I could never reach my full potential,” the girl said before breaking down again.
Earlier in the day the court heard from Le Roux’s defence counsel, Neil Schoeman SC, when he cross-examined the girl’s mother, that Le Roux had secured R135000 from a wealthy philanthropist for her high school tuition fees. “Once the case was opened we never heard from again,” the mother said.
“Mr Le Roux took a keen interest in and liking to your daughter when she enrolled in his class, is that correct,” Schoeman asked, to which the mother responded: “Yes he did.”
“He will say she had potential, was a gifted person and that he treated her like his daughter,” said Schoeman.
“Then I feel sorry for his daughter,” the mother replied.
“He taught her as best as he could and he gave her life skills,” Schoeman said. “So did I,” the mother replied.
“He denies any criminal conduct or grooming her in anyway,” said Schoeman. “Are you asking me,” the mother replied. But Schoeman took his seat saying he had nothing further to ask.
State prosecutor Bonginkosi Mafa then rose to his feet.
“Ma’am what is your take on what the accused is saying,” he asked.
She replied: “Of course he will deny it because it is against the law.” She told the court Mr Le Roux served on several governing bodies in education, both nationally and in East London.The trial continues today. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
How teacher on rape charge groomed teen
The girl testified in camera in the East London Magistrate’s Court in the trial of the former Grade 7 primary school teacher who is accused of sexually grooming her.
The schoolgirl told regional magistrate Ignatius Kitching she first met Le Roux when she became a pupil in his class at a top East London school.
She said he hugged every girl in the class but “grew increasingly inappropriate” around her.
Yesterday – the fourth day of his rape, sexual assault and sexual grooming trial – she said Le Roux spent more time with her in and outside the school before resigning when the allegations against him emerged. He sometimes gave her a lift home and would take a longer route. On the way he touched her inappropriately.
She said Le Roux would stop and buy her a milkshake and they would sit in his car and talk.
She said he told her he wanted something from her “that he could remember in the next 20 years”.
“Can I please highlight this with what he told me,” the girl asked Kitching, who replied: “Yes, go ahead.”
“He told me our relationship was like a deep dark pool in the middle of the forest and that in this pool there are different shells with gold coins in them and the deeper you go the more you could get, and that you couldn’t reach the bottom of the pool.
“He used to say I was standing on the edge of the pool looking in, and I was too scared to dive in and because of this I couldn’t reach my full potential,” the girl said, breaking down.
After she had composed herself she said Le Roux later added to the picture by saying she was too scared to do anything more with him.
“He said if I was never brave enough to connect with him, I could never reach my full potential,” the girl said before breaking down again.
Earlier in the day the court heard from Le Roux’s defence counsel, Neil Schoeman SC, when he cross-examined the girl’s mother, that Le Roux had secured R135000 from a wealthy philanthropist for her high school tuition fees. “Once the case was opened we never heard from again,” the mother said.
“Mr Le Roux took a keen interest in and liking to your daughter when she enrolled in his class, is that correct,” Schoeman asked, to which the mother responded: “Yes he did.”
“He will say she had potential, was a gifted person and that he treated her like his daughter,” said Schoeman.
“Then I feel sorry for his daughter,” the mother replied.
“He taught her as best as he could and he gave her life skills,” Schoeman said. “So did I,” the mother replied.
“He denies any criminal conduct or grooming her in anyway,” said Schoeman. “Are you asking me,” the mother replied. But Schoeman took his seat saying he had nothing further to ask.
State prosecutor Bonginkosi Mafa then rose to his feet.
“Ma’am what is your take on what the accused is saying,” he asked.
She replied: “Of course he will deny it because it is against the law.” She told the court Mr Le Roux served on several governing bodies in education, both nationally and in East London.The trial continues today. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos