Former and Current Teachers of South Peninsula High School Face Court Charges Over Historic Abuse Allegations

Two South Peninsula High School teachers, one former and one current, appeared in the Wynberg Regional Court. File picture: Tracey Adams

Cape Town – Two educators from South Peninsula High School, one a former staff member and the other still active, appeared in the Wynberg Regional Court last Friday. They face serious allegations of rape and indecent assault dating back over two decades.

The legal proceedings moved to the Regional Court on June 14, after five preliminary appearances in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court. The case stems from a police report filed on November 18, 2023, which led to the suspects being detained for questioning.

The accusations were brought forward by a former student who attended the school between 1998 and 2003. An anonymous source close to the victim revealed that the incidents allegedly took place between 2000 and 2004. The source explained, “The victim had managed to cope with the trauma over the years and had no plans of bringing the matter to light. However, seeing a friend’s Facebook post in October, discussing his own memories and the burden of silence, triggered her. The mixed reactions to the post, especially those suggesting ‘she must have liked it,’ caused her to relive those memories. Counseling sessions that followed brought even more recollections to the surface, leading to her decision to act.”

The school’s governing body (SGB) issued a statement on June 28 acknowledging the situation but has taken no further action. The statement read, “As the SGB, we stand by the justice system in our country, support the rights of every individual, and will unequivocally respect the outcome in this matter. We urge the community to allow the legal process to take its course and to respect the rights of everyone involved.”

Police spokesperson Anelisiwe Manyana confirmed that the Diep River police station has registered cases of rape and is continuing its investigation. She stated that the suspects were arrested and the case has been remanded until August 21.

In an interview with the Cape Argus, a former learner who graduated in 2001 and wished to remain anonymous, expressed her familiarity with the victim and noted that the victim’s sexual preferences had been exploited. She added that other former students have since come forward, sharing accounts of inappropriate behavior by the two teachers and others. One individual recounted being invited to a teacher’s home and asked to kiss one of them.

One of the accused teachers retired last year. Millicent Merton, spokesperson for the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), emphasized the department’s strict stance against sexual abuse, stating, “The WCED adopts a zero-tolerance approach on any form of sexual abuse. While the victim currently wishes to proceed only with the criminal case, the WCED will consider further action depending on the criminal case’s outcome.”

Sources:

  • Original article from Cape Argus
  • Interviews and statements from affected individuals and authorities
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