DURBAN – A 32-year-old primary school counsellor was convicted of five counts of sexual assault, one count of rape and accessing child pornography by the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
KwaZulu-Natal National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the matter was postponed to July 13 –15, for pre-sentencing reports. He remains out on bail.
“The man was a counsellor at a primary school in Pietermaritzburg where he preyed on boy pupils. In his capacity as the school counsellor, he consulted with the pupils in his office on the school premises,” Ramkisson-Kara said.
She said he was arrested in 2016 when the incidents came to light.
Meanwhile, police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala said the Durban Central Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit is pleading for assistance from the community to solve a rape case. The man in the attached identikit can assist the FCS Unit with the case they are investigating.
“It is alleged that on August 31, 2021, at 6pm, a 15-year-old youth was walking along West Street when he was approached by a group of men who took him to a taxi rank and raped him. Detectives believe that the man in the attached identikit will assist in solving the case,” Gwala said.
She said anyone with information that can assist police to find the person in the attached identikit is requested to contact the investigating officer Constable Shabalala on 084 891 7287 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
In another rape case, Gwala said the Brighton Beach FCS Unit is making an appeal to members of the community to assist with regards to a wanted suspect Mhlonishwa Mkhize, 36. He is wanted for the charges of rape and robbery that was committed on July 28, 2018, where a 43-year-old woman was allegedly raped and robbed.
“Charges of rape and robbery were opened for investigation at Montclair SAPS. The accused was traced and arrested on November 27, 2020, and appeared in court. He fell ill and proceeded to receive medical treatment. He has not appeared in court since then and has been on the run since October 2021. A warrant of arrest has been issued by the court,” Gwala said.
She said anyone with information on his whereabouts is requested to urgently contact Detective Constable Bouverie at the Brighton Beach FCS Unit on 031 451 8059/082 459 5498 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Daily News