Pietermaritzburg - Four teachers who allegedly showed support for the Pietermaritzburg primary school guidance counsellor facing charges of child rape and sexual assault have been requested by the school governing body to “stay away” pending the outcome of an investigation.
Two community newspapers published online at the weekend stated that the teachers had been suspended.
However, the Daily News has established that this is in dispute.
Education Department spokesman, Sihle Mlotshwa, indicated the teachers had not been suspended, but their alleged conduct was being investigated.
The chairperson of the governing body would only put on record that the alleged offending teachers had been “requested to stay away”.
The teachers at the centre of the scandal allegedly attended court at their colleague’s first appearance in support of him, which alleged victims’ parents found “appalling and in bad taste”.
It has since been revealed that the 32-year-old counsellor was employed at the school without being registered with the HPCSA and without the necessary background checks. Following the allegations against him, he has been fired.
The man, who holds a Master’s degree in psychology, faces two charges of raping children and two of sexual assault.
The court heard at the man’s first court appearance that he took boys between the ages of 4 and 9 to his office, where he allegedly sexually abused or raped them.
The state alleged that the man had apparently targeted children with learning problems, or who were from unstable backgrounds.
The prosecution has confirmed that more charges would be added against the man.
The man, who has denied all the charges against him, alleging that there is a conspiracy against him, was refused bail last week.