Durban - “It wasn’t me!” That’s what well-known Durban actor and drama teacher Peter Court posted on Facebook this week after an unnamed drama teacher appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on several charges of child pornography.
The male teacher is facing 11 charges, including using children for child pornography and possessing, procuring and creating child pornography.
In terms of the law, the teacher who appeared in court cannot be named until he has pleaded. However, the case has cast aspersions on other drama teachers in the city.
Court said: “Yes, I posted the statement, and I was fully aware that, by doing so, I was placing it in the public domain. But I don’t want to discuss the matter any further.”
The Sunday Tribune is also aware of a city lawyer “naming and shaming” the 48-year-old teacher suspect on Facebook. However, the post has now been removed.
Professor Mervyn McMurtry, the chairman of the Speech and Drama Association of SA, defended drama teachers.
He said: “This is particularly sad for me because I know the accused well, and taught him, but I need to state that it is not the profession that is at fault, but human frailty.”
Sunday Tribune