Durban - A Pietermaritzburg primary school guidance counsellor facing charges of child rape and sexual assault has vehemently denied the allegations against him, claiming there is a “campaign” against him.
“I deny all the allegations levelled against me, which I regard as malicious and fabricated, and will be pleading not guilty when the matter goes to trial.”
The 32-year-old man made these claims in support of his bail application at the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on monday before a public gallery packed with concerned parents, school staff and the MEC for Education in KZN, Mthandeni Dlungwane.
The MEC successfully applied to have the education department joined in the proceedings as an interested party.
The former counsellor, who holds a Masters in Psychology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and who has since been fired from the school, faces two charges of raping children, and two of sexual assault.
The court heard at the man’s first court appearance last week that he took boys between the ages of four and nine to his office, where he allegedly sexually abused or raped them.
The state alleged that the man had apparently targeted children with problems, or who were from unstable backgrounds.
Since the counsellor’s arrest, more children have come forward with claims of abuse.
Prosecutor Thandeka Mkhize, in opposition to the man being granted bail, revealed that two further inquiries of sexual abuse were currently being investigated, and that two other dockets were being perused by senior prosecutors.
Mkhize submitted that the man had a pattern of abuse with similar facts in all the cases, and that all the victims had identified their abuser by name.
She confirmed that medical examination reports indicated the victims had been sexually assaulted and were all currently seeing psychologists, who have indicated that the children are still “traumatised”.
Mkhize said if released on bail, the man could pose a threat to the safety of his accusers, and reiterated the public outrage evident since the man’s arrest on June 24.
“It would not be in the interests of justice for him to be released on bail. There has been no evidence adduced to suggest that there is any vendetta against him, or that these charges have been cooked up. One must ask the question, why would these children lie?’” Mkhize said.
In his affidavit applying for bail, the man confirmed that his family lived in Cowies Hill.
He matriculated at Westville High School and thereafter started studying at UKZN, Pietermaritzburg. He is single and lives alone.
With an impressive CV to his name, the man explained that he matriculated with six distinctions and obtained colours for athletics at school and received numerous sports and academic awards.
He was also a youth leader at Westville Baptist Church for a year.
He is also an All Africa Junior duathlon champion.
“I have a keen interest in cycling and am well known in the cycling fraternity in South Africa. I also provide coaching to students and am currently sponsored by Cadence in Cascades, in my personal capacity, for cycling,” he said.
The man said he received KZN colours on numerous occasions for cycling and is the cycling representative for the Natal Track Committee.
He also has a keen interest in photography and has been recruited by various event organisers to shoot international events, world champion events, The Vodacom Durban July and was contracted to Cycling South Africa.
Addressing the charges against him, the counsellor said he was shocked by the accusations.
He said that in his professional capacity, he had counselled the children and denied any conduct “tainted with turpitude”.
“More particularly, these children were referred to me on a professional basis by other educators, after they were screened by professionals,” he said.
The man explained that he would be able to demonstrate at trial that he had been falsely accused, and that there was no substance to any of the allegations against him.
The man confirmed he had no previous convictions or pending cases against him.
“I am a non-violent and law-abiding citizen,” he said.
The man’s attorney, Siva Chetty, revealed in his closing argument that the man would be contesting his dismissal from the school in another forum.
Chetty also alluded to the fact that the accusations by the children may be as a result of “exaggeration or persuasion”.
“These allegations could very well be fabricated. As serious as the allegations may be, there is no evidence to suggest that we are dealing with a serial sex offender. My client is a destroyed man by simply appearing in this court,” Chetty said.
Judgment on bail will be delivered on July 18.
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