Durban - Parents of children who were allegedly raped and sexually assaulted by their primary school guidance counsellor expressed their frustration and anger outside the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday after being informed that the man would make another bid for bail.
“This is outrageous. He belongs in prison. Our children will not be safe, no child is safe if he is allowed to walk the streets,” one mother said.
The Pietermaritzburg man, charged with multiple rapes and sexual assaults of his young male charges, and who cannot be named until he has pleaded to the charges, will bring a fresh bail application on new facts on October 5.
His advocate, Brad Osbourne, confirmed this before magistrate M Boikhutso on Monday, adding that his client would submit an affidavit and oral evidence at the new bail application.
The counsellor was denied bail by Boikhutso in July, and earlier this month appealed against the decision in the high court. This, too, was refused.
On Monday, Osbourne placed on record that there were various “worrying factors” contained in a letter from the office of the KZN Director of Public Prosecutions.
The letter states that there are several issues that require attention before the investigation can be finalised and the case can go to trial.
These include statements that have yet to be taken from certain teachers and parents, and a search and seizure of the man’s electronic devices.
Other aspects that the investigating officer needs to ascertain are whether the man kept a diary of his counselling sessions with the children, why his registration with the Health Professions Council of SA was suspended and why he was not a registered member of the South African Council of Educators, and whether the school he was employed by was aware of these issues.
Daily News