Pretoria – The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court, sitting at the Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre, denied bail to rape-accused teacher Bongani Timothy Ntuli.
The educator was arrested for allegedly raping a 12-year-old at Spark Primary School, according to Gauteng regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority Lumka Mahanjana.
“Ntuli is facing a charge of raping a Grade 6 learner from his school. It is alleged on 5 May 2022, the mother of the 12-year-old boy noticed some behavioural changes in the child, as he was not eating his favourite food,” Mahanjana said.
Later that day, Majanhana said the concerned mother decided she would share a bed with the boy, and that is when she noticed that he was struggling to sleep and had some bleeding.
“The following day, the mother noticed that money was withdrawn from her account, and when she confronted him, he informed the mother that he took the money to buy the teacher a PlayStation 4, for him to stop bullying him. The mother reported the matter to the police and Ntuli was arrested on 18 May 2022,” Mahanjana said.
In court, Ntuli asked to be released on bail. However, State prosecutor Lorinda van Pittius told the court that it was not in the best interest of justice for the accused to be released on bail.
The prosecution also submitted that Ntuli was not yet suspended at the school and he might pose a threat to child.
“Therefore, no exceptional circumstances were warranting his release on bail. The magistrate, denied his bail, saying that the accused did not satisfy the court that it was in the interest of justice that he should be released on bail,” Mahanjana said.
The matter was postponed to June 13, for allocation of a regional court date.
IOL