- The Mbilwi Secondary School teacher allegedly raped a 17-year-old pupil.
- His resignation has been accepted and he has been removed from the department's system.
- The teacher will apply for bail in the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on Thursday.
A 50-year-old teacher from Mbilwi Secondary School in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, accused of raping a 17-year-old pupil, has resigned.
According to provincial Department of Education spokesperson Tidimalo Chuene, the teacher's resignation was accepted and processed.
"Please note that a report from our human resource department indicates that male educator attached to Mbilwi Secondary School, accused of rape, tendered his resignation to the Limpopo Department of Education. He has since been 'removed' from our system," Chuene said on Tuesday.
He was arrested on 14 May 2021 and previously appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on three counts of rape.
According to Limpopo's National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, the teacher will appear for a bail hearing on Thursday.
News24 previously reported that police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the man allegedly raped the pupil on several occasions in 2018.
The victim, who is now 20, opened the case at the Thohoyandou police station in April, the spokesperson said.
"In one of the incidents, he reportedly offered to assist her with extra lessons but instead took her to a lodge where he allegedly raped her. He thereafter threatened the child and then offered her money to keep her silent," Mojapelo said.
Chuene said the department deemed the accusations against the teacher serious and worrying, adding that it hoped justice would prevail.
"As parents, we leave our children in the care of educators to build and nurture them into responsible adults. The idea of one then taking advantage of children in this alleged manner is most disturbing," Chuene said.
News24 reported that the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) held hearings in Limpopo last week where bullying, sexual relations between teachers and pupils and corporal punishment in schools were discussed.
Different speakers from NGOs, teacher trade unions and student organisations, as well as parents participated in the hearings and pointed out weaknesses in the education system.
The SAHRC held the hearings following the suicide of Mbilwi Secondary School pupil Lufuno Mavhunga in April.
Lufuno took an excess of pills following a bullying incident at school.
A video of the incident went viral on social media and captured Lufuno being slapped multiple times by another pupil as other schoolmates cheered and watched on.
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