A POSTGRADUATE English teacher who was indecently assaulted by a former pupil in the presence of her thirteen-year-old son and other pupils, said the attack left her with depression, bitterness, uncontrolled anger and heartache.
‘I have never been more embarrassed. If it were up to me, I would find something to wipe and remove this all from my mind and forget about it.
‘I was disgraced in the presence of the community, my learners and not to mention my own biological children,’ said the teacher.
She was testifying in the eSikhawini Regional Court after preparing a Victim Impact Statement with Court Preparations Officer Mandisa Sikakane of the National Prosecuting Authority.
The accused, 21-year-old Phakamani Ntuli, said he was very drunk and could not remember the attack, but under cross-examination by Regional Court Prosecutor Bonginkosi Mbokazi, he appeared to remembered many details before and after the incident.
Regional Court Magistrate Zungu rejected his defense and in judgement asked why the accused had such a selective memory.
She found that he was of sound mind and sober when he committed the offense and convicted him accordingly.
Mbokazi argued in aggravation that the accused was very spiteful, swearing at the victim and other teachers and showing no remorse, instead saying he was drunk and should not be punished.
He said the accused was a school dropout, disruptive and disrespectful towards others who wanted to learn.
The teacher, also a Teacher Liaison Officer who deals with many cases of sexual assault and rape, said it was extremely difficult to fall victim to sexual harassment, as she preaches extensively on the subject.
Her young son also suffered severe trauma and fear that the accused will come after him.
‘What he did, hurt me deeply in my soul. I saw everything he did to my mother. I felt like fighting to help her. If I had the strength I would have removed him from her.’
The teacher, a single parent, was also affected financially because of medical and travelling expenses for both her and her son.
Ntuli was sentenced to five years imprisonment, of which three were suspended.
