AN assistant sport organiser and coach at Heuwelland Primary School has been arrested and charged with sexual assault and incitement.
The mothers of two pupils reported to the Empangeni police on 6 and 12 August respectively that the 23-year-old man was texting inappropriate messages to their daughters, asking for nude photos.
According to a police source, one of the parents of a 12-year-old girl said she noticed that her child was behaving strangely. When she went through her WhatsApp messages she discovered that the sport organiser was asking her to send him photos and videos of herself.
In the second case, a 15-year-old high school pupil reportedly sent nude photos of herself to the man.
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Heuwelland Governing Body Chairperson, Denis Soldat, said the matter involving one of their pupils was being investigated with urgency.
‘The coach, who was employed by the school’s governing body, was immediately suspended pending the investigation and has since resigned with immediate effect.
‘To the school’s knowledge, separate criminal charges were laid with the police, one by parents of a minor child who is not a learner of the school, and one by parents of a Heuwelland learner.’
Soldat said proper procedures were followed with the appointment of the coach.
‘Heuwelland has a very detailed code of conduct that stipulates what constitutes acceptable behaviour. All staff receive training on the code of conduct at the beginning of each year.’
KZN Education Department spokesperson Kwazi Mthethwa said they were aware of the matter.
‘We do not condone any sexual act against minors in school. It is an abuse of power. This is now a criminal matter and we trust that the police will conduct a proper investigation.’
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