KZN school counsellor gets 17 years for sexually abusing male learners

A school counsellor in Pietermaritzburg who preyed on male learners was sentenced to 17 years in jail for sexually assault and rape

A school counsellor in Pietermaritzburg who preyed on male learners was sentenced to 17 years in jail for sexually assault and rape.

Durban – A 38 year-old man was sentenced to 17 years in prison by the Pietermaritzburg High Court for sexual assault, a count of rape and accessing child pornography, according to the National Prosecution Authority.

The convicted man worked as a counsellor at a primary school in Pietermaritzburg in the Msunduzi Municipality.

Spokesperson for the NPA, Natasha Ramkissoon-Kara, said the man consulted with male learners in his office on the school premises. This is where the known transgressions took place. His criminal acts came to light in 2016, and he was arrested.

“In the state’s case, Senior State Advocate Attie Truter submitted Victim Impact Statements compiled by some of the children and their parents, and facilitated by the KZN Deputy Director for Court Preparation, Roelien Wiesner. All their statements spoke of how the man had gained their confidence only to break their trust and violate their rights.

“The parents said that the man’s actions have had irreparable effects, not only on the affected children but their families as a whole. One child said that following the abuse he became withdrawn and angry. He felt uncomfortable around males and did not trust his teachers,” Ramkissoon Kara said.

She said the man was granted leave to appeal his conviction and denied bail, pending the appeal.

IOL