A former Harvester Primary School teacher was granted bail of R5 000 and released under strict court-imposed conditions.
The 35-year-old woman appeared in the Mitchells Plain Magistrates Court on Friday, July 18, facing two charges of sexual grooming of a child and exposing a child to explicit material.
As part of her bail conditions, the accused may not enter Mitchell’s Plain unless attending court, may not contact the victim, and may not be in any setting where children are present.
The investigation follows after the former Grade R teacher was caught after she allegedly sent an explicit video of herself to a Grade 7 pupil ("Grade R teacher from Harvester Primary School faces bail decision" Plainsman July 15).
The principal of Harvester Primary School is also under investigation for allegedly obstructing and defeating the ends of justice following the teacher’s arrest.
Provincial police spokesperson Captain FC Van Wyk confirmed that a criminal case has been opened against the principal.
According to the director of public prosecutions (DPP), the charges include defeating or obstructing the course of justice and contravening Section 54 of the Sexual Offences Act.
The investigation remains ongoing, said Captain Van Wyk.
A previous testimony from the investigating officer in the case, Warrant Officer Roland Peters, revealed that the matter was reported to Lentegeur police station on Monday, June 9.
He visited the school on Tuesday, June 10, where the principal allegedly told him a concerned parent informed her on Wednesday, June 4, about an explicit video involving the teacher.
Instead of reporting the matter to police, the principal went to the child’s home on Friday, June 6, to retrieve the cellphone and reported the incident only to the Western Cape Education Department (WCED).
Warrant Officer Peters said the principal told him she felt it was not her responsibility to report it to the police as she had already informed the WCED.
In court on Friday July 18, the magistrate said this was a serious error in judgment by the principal.
Bronagh Hammond, spokesperson for WCED said her future in teaching depends on the case outcome. If found guilty, she’ll be listed on the National Sexual Offenders Register and blocked from public school employment by South African Council for Educators (SACE).
Ms Hammond, confirmed that the principal, who remains in her role, is currently under investigation by the department.
The pupil and family are receiving ongoing counseling; school staff and pupils will also get support, she said.
The State opposed bail, arguing that the accused’s conduct formed the basis of both charges, sexual grooming and exposing a minor to explicit material, and that any remaining doubt regarding the first charge should be dispelled by the evidence presented.
They raised concerns for the child’s safety, noting that the accused continued working with children even after the allegations had been brought to the attention of both the school principal and WCED.
Although the accused claimed she resigned with immediate effect on Friday, June 6, the State presented evidence indicating she remained in her teaching role until Thursday, June 12.
The magistrate noted that while her resignation may have been submitted on June 6, it was only processed on June 12, during which time she was reportedly reassigned to administrative duties at WCED offices.
The defence argued that the accused is a first-time offender with no prior convictions or outstanding warrants. She submitted a formal affidavit in support of her bail application, which remained uncontested by the State.
The defence maintained that she posed no threat to the public or the victim, had handed over her cellphone, and would comply with any bail conditions set by the court.
The defence said the accused is the primary breadwinner for her family, and would face substantial legal expenses. Denying bail would’ve been unjust and resulted in her being unfairly ostracised.
The magistrate said that although the community opposed her bail, “bail is not a peremptory punishment.”
The case was postponed to Thursday, October 16, for further investigation.