Tongaat teacher charged with statutory rape
KZN police have confirmed a case of statutory rape has been opened against a Tongaat Secondary School teacher.
The case involves a 16-year-old Grade 11 learner.
READ: Tongaat teacher suspended for alleged sexual misconduct
Earlier this month, screen shots of explicit WhatsApp messages, allegedly between the teacher and the pupil surfaced.
It led to protests outside the school, with learners and parents calling for the teacher to be removed.
The Education Department says the teacher has been suspended.
ALSO READ: Rape-accused KZN teacher to remain behind bars
Police spokesperson, Nqobile Gwala says the case was opened on Monday.
"This year a 16-year-old pupil was allegedly raped by a known suspect [on] the premises on Tongaat main road. A case of rape was opened at Tongaat police station. The docket was then transferred to the Phoenix Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further investigation".
KZN Education MEC, Kwazi Mshengu says he's glad the parents have taken action.
"We will allow that process to unfold and the court will decide but as a department we are also going to proceed with the processes we have instituted. In most of these cases usually, they border on statutory rape because these learners that get into sexual relationships with teachers, they are really minor learners who legally cannot give any form of consent."