A former Clarendon Primary School teacher arrested at his Gonubie home a week ago on charges of rape and sexual assault laid by three different plaintiffs is out on R5000 bail.
One of the complainants is a minor teenage girl.
The 64-year-old teacher, who spent six nights in the Fleet Street police station cells, stood in the dock wearing a dark suit, white shirt and polka dot tie, looking calm and centred.
He twice gesticulated to two men in the gallery.
Magistrate Nceba Madlavu instructed the Daily Dispatch to leave the courtroom after defence attorney Roger Smith informed him that testimony to be presented by investigating officer Inspector Rudi van Wyk of the child protection unit would contain details relating to the alleged sexual assault of the minor.
Madlavu said he had no “application” for the media’s presence but the Dispatch was permitted to attend the bail hearing after a senior criminal court manager intervened.
The bail hearing resumed but Van Wyk was not called to present the contents of his affidavit and no reason was given as to why this procedure was not followed.
Smith said the prosecution was aware of the contents of his affidavit and did not object to it.
In the affidavit in support of bail, the accused stated that although he was not aware of the “exact details and nature of the charges” he was facing, he denied all allegations against him and would be pleading not guilty to all counts.
The man, who is married with four children, said he had no previous convictions and would not endanger the public, nor did he “bear any resentment” towards the complainants.
“I have not committed any act of violence against the complainant or complainants or threatened her/them in any way,” wrote the man, who taught at Clarendon Primary from 2013 until he was suspended last month after one of the complaints emerged.
He resigned his position shortly afterwards.
The magistrate granted the accused bail of R5000 on condition he did not try to communicate with witnesses and that he report to Gonubie Police Station every Wednesday. The case is due to resume on July 6. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
Bail for rape accused former teacher
One of the complainants is a minor teenage girl.
The 64-year-old teacher, who spent six nights in the Fleet Street police station cells, stood in the dock wearing a dark suit, white shirt and polka dot tie, looking calm and centred.
He twice gesticulated to two men in the gallery.
Magistrate Nceba Madlavu instructed the Daily Dispatch to leave the courtroom after defence attorney Roger Smith informed him that testimony to be presented by investigating officer Inspector Rudi van Wyk of the child protection unit would contain details relating to the alleged sexual assault of the minor.
Madlavu said he had no “application” for the media’s presence but the Dispatch was permitted to attend the bail hearing after a senior criminal court manager intervened.
The bail hearing resumed but Van Wyk was not called to present the contents of his affidavit and no reason was given as to why this procedure was not followed.
Smith said the prosecution was aware of the contents of his affidavit and did not object to it.
In the affidavit in support of bail, the accused stated that although he was not aware of the “exact details and nature of the charges” he was facing, he denied all allegations against him and would be pleading not guilty to all counts.
The man, who is married with four children, said he had no previous convictions and would not endanger the public, nor did he “bear any resentment” towards the complainants.
“I have not committed any act of violence against the complainant or complainants or threatened her/them in any way,” wrote the man, who taught at Clarendon Primary from 2013 until he was suspended last month after one of the complaints emerged.
He resigned his position shortly afterwards.
The magistrate granted the accused bail of R5000 on condition he did not try to communicate with witnesses and that he report to Gonubie Police Station every Wednesday. The case is due to resume on July 6. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
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