Charges dropped against AB Xuma school patroller

The man was accused of sexually assaulting more than 80 pupils. 

Fifty-eight-year-old Johannes Molefe was arrested in 2017 after reports that he had raped young girls aged between six and thirteen years of age.

Gauteng education spokesperson Steve Mabona says the judgment was scathing.

“The judge was very scathing to say the case was contaminated, there were lots of contradictions in the things said to parents, educators and the investigating officers. We respect the judgment and we will have to work hard to train our employees on how to manage cases like this. It’s a sad moment for parents who have been going through this traumatic experience.”

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On Tuesday, Molefe’s legal team told the court that it’s highly likely that the children were coached to lie about the incidents.

Mabona says the department failed learners, and despite the judgment, there is still a process of screening scholar patrollers before they are hired in schools.

A representative of the children’s families, Phindile Senye, believes the judgment is unfair.

“We are devastated by the judgment made by the court, the court was very unfair to the victims. I understand there are processes and technicalities, but the magistrate concerned on the errors, but if the errors were committed why should the victims be penalised for errors committed by the police?"

She says parents are disappointed at the conduct of the police, who committed mistakes from the start. 

The National Prosecuting Authority says it will study the judgment with the view of taking it on appeal. 

"We will study the judgment with the view of taking the matter on appeal were we are convinced that there is a question in law. Because we are mindful to the fact that our options as the state when it comes to appealing are limited," says NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane