Riot Hlatshwayo

Riot Hlatshwayo

The father of a 16-year-old girl who had an affair with a teacher has vowed to lay charges of rape against the man.

The girl is now pregnant, but the teacher, from Frank Maginyana High School in Ludlow near Thulamahashe, Mpumalanga, allegedly said that because they had been using condoms he could not have made her pregnant.

"I thought this teacher was human, but now realise he is worse than a pig. He had the guts to tell the delegation I sent to his house that he had sex with my daughter, but had used condoms. This makes no difference because my child was 15 at the time," the father said yesterday.

"I have been in talks with some elders in my community and will open a statutory rape case against the teacher today," he said.

He said he would wait for the baby to be born before forcing the teacher to undergo a paternity test to show that he was the father.

Mhala police spokesman Robert Makhubele said police had heard rumours that a teacher had had sex with a minor.

"But we don't work on the basis of rumours. If charges are laid against him, we won't hesitate to arrest the teacher," he said.

Thomas Khoza, the school principal, said: "It is disturbing that one of my teachers was allegedly involved in a sexual relationship with a scholar right under my nose. I've discussed the matter with the school governing body, but I can't comment further," he said.

Mpumalanga education spokesman, Hlahla Ngwenya, said: "The department is waiting for a written report before any action can be taken.

"If the allegations are true, the teacher will definitely face the music," Ngwenya said.

The teacher denied knowing anything about the matter.