Rape-accused school counsellor stays in jail, bail decision postponed
A Pietermaritzburg school counsellor accused of rape will spend another two weeks behind bars after judgment in his bail application in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate's Court has been reserved.
The 31-year-old man faces three charges of raping children and is under investigation in 10 to 15 more cases.
The counsellor has been fired from his job at a primary school. He allegedly threatened the children by telling them he would kill their parents.
Senior prosecutor Patti David told the court last Monday that the man took boys between the ages of four and nine to his office, where he allegedly sexually abused or raped them.
She said the man had apparently targeted children with problems, or who were from unstable backgrounds.
The man cannot be named until he pleads in the matter.
The father of one of the victims, who cannot be named, said he was pleased that the man would spend another two weeks locked up.
"It is some consolation knowing he will be behind bars for another two weeks. We hope he stays inside," he said.
"The concerning thing is the amount of support he has from his fellow teachers at the school," he added.
(File photo: Getty Images)