Past cases of Westville teacher accused of grooming reopened
The Education Department in KwaZulu-Natal says it's reopening the old cases against a Westville teacher who's facing new child grooming allegations.
The Pitlochry Primary School educator is accused of sending explicit messages to a Grade 7 pupil via TikTok chat.
KZN Education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi says the man was previously removed from another school over similar claims.
" We are now saying, ‘Hang on, there is a pattern here from this person’. You can't have wanted the very same offence from the same person, which means that this is just him. So we will deal with him as if, we are dealing with two cases in this regard."
Mahlambi says the educator was previously punished for another offence but because it was not for rape or sexual assault, he was allowed to return to teaching.
" He served his period and punishment, and he came back. Now we're saying, we can't be suspending and bringing this person back. We are dealing with a permanent problem here."
Earlier this week, parents gathered outside Pitlochry Primary School demanding answers from the school's management.
The teacher has since been suspended.
A criminal case is also under investigation.
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