Drama unfolds at Mitchell's Plain court over teacher's bail application
The Grade R teacher said she intends to plead not guilty.
Image: Kim Swartz
The Mitchell's Plain Magistrate's Court will hear testimony this week, before deciding on the bail application of a former teacher accused of sexual grooming of a minor and exposing the child to explicit material.
There was drama at the courthouse last Thursday, after a controversial call to block media coverage of the case involving the former Grade R at Harvester Primary School and the Grade 7 learner.
The teacher is accused of sending explicit videos to the learner.
The court was expected to hear arguments from the State and the teacher's lawyer on her release on bail, however, the proceedings took a turn when the court heard that a "problematic" article had been published by a media house.
The accused’s legal representative stated that information mentioned in the article was not heard yet before the court and mentioned the name of the accused before she pleaded.
However, the court’s management said the magistrate cleared up the misunderstanding ahead of this coming Thursday’s sitting, when the court is expected to hear testimonies from the school’s principal and the victim.
Meanwhile, Parents For Equal Education founder, Vanessa le Roux, said they questioned why the principal did not face charges.
Le Roux said: “The Department of Public Prosecutions initiated charges against the principal, and the charge is defeating the ends of justice. While on the phone with the investigating officer [two weeks ago,] he explained to me that they are still waiting for the docket to come back from the prosecutor.”
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