A 12-YEAR-OLD schoolgirl was brutally tied up and raped, allegedly by a teacher from her school

The incident occurred in Mashaeng, Free State, on Monday.

The teacher is alleged to have called the young girl to his house, where the assault is alleged to have taken place.

Police spokeswoman Sergeant Majang Skalkie said the victim was walking home from the library with two friends when the assault allegedly took place.

"The three girls were on their way home from the library. The teacher allegedly called the victim over to his house and raped her," Skalkie said.

The 50-year-old man teaches at at Phaphamang Primary School, which the girl attends.

Skalkie could not say if the man was the girl's teacher.

"All we can confirm is that the suspect is a teacher. It is unclear at this moment whether the suspect teaches the girl."

Skalkie said: "After the girl went into the house he [the teacher] allegedly locked the kitchen door.

"He then reportedly undressed the victim, tied her hands, put her on the table and raped her several times.

"He covered her mouth with a table cloth. After he was done raping he, he let her go and asked her not to tell anyone."

The 12-year-old told her sister what had happened when she arrived home and her sister alerted police.

Skalkie said: "The police looked for him for most of the night, but could not find him."

Police found the teacher at work on Tuesday, and he was arrested in front of his colleagues and pupils.

"He was arrested at his place of work and was taken into custody. He will appear at the Fouriesburg Magistrate's Court today on a charge of rape," said Skalkie.