A Mitchells Plain primary school teacher has been accused of shocking misconduct after allegedly sharing pornographic images with a 13-year-old Grade 7 learner.
The 35-year-old teacher, formerly employed at Harvester Primary School in Westridge, made her initial court appearance at the Mitchells Plain Magistrates Court last Friday, facing serious charges of sexual grooming and exposing a child to explicit material.
The case, which has sent ripples of outrage throughout the community, involves claims that the alleged inappropriate behaviour began on the evening of May 25.
According to the State, the teacher initiated contact with the boy via WhatsApp, where their conversations rapidly escalated to sexual topics.
In a particularly disturbing allegation, the court heard that the teacher sent a graphic video of herself to the minor and subsequently invited him to her classroom the very next day. Such claims have raised alarm among parents and community members, who are now grappling with the implications of these serious allegations.
As the legal proceedings unfolded, the State revealed that the court hearings would be postponed until June 23. During this time, they plan to present further evidence and seek guidance from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) regarding the prima facie evidence against the accused teacher.
In light of the severe nature of the allegations, the State intends to vehemently oppose any bail application, asserting that the charges are serious enough to warrant strict custody.
The situation escalated significantly after the principal of Harvester Primary intervened on June 7, requesting that the minor surrender his mobile phone. This action led to the shocking discovery of explicit images and videos allegedly sent by the teacher, bringing the gravity of the situation into sharp focus.
Update: Thursday, 12 June, 2:30pm
Harvester Primary School released a statement confirming that it is ‘aware of the allegations of sexual abuse/grooming against a minor, by an SGB educator’.
‘The SGB and WCED adopt a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of abuse. The educator was in the employ of the SGB and not the WCED and has resigned with immediate effect,’ the school said in its statement.
‘She is thus NO LONGER in the employ of the SGB.’
The school added that the matter is being referred to the South African Council of Educators (SACE) for further handling and that a criminal charge has been laid.
‘The WCED and SGB are committed to providing support where necessary to the victim and their family,’ SGB concluded.
A female teacher at Harvester Primary School in Mitchells Plain has been placed on sick leave following serious allegations of sexual assault involving a Grade 7 pupil, prompting investigations by the Western Cape Education Department and the South African Police Service.
The revelations allegedly emerged after the school principal requested the learner’s phone, which subsequently unveiled explicit WhatsApp conversations between the teacher and the young student.
Reports indicate that the unsettling exchange began when the teacher contacted the learner through the social media platform TikTok, eventually shifting their communication to WhatsApp.
The explicit nature of the correspondence reportedly included a video sent by the teacher, showing her engaging in inappropriate behaviour, clearly visible to the recipient.
In a disturbing juxtaposition, the pupil responded with a more innocent video featuring himself and his brother playing video games.
The Western Cape Education Department has swiftly moved to launch a thorough investigation into the matter. In addition to the inquiry, officials have stressed their commitment to providing emotional support and counselling to the affected learner, a crucial step in ensuring the child’s well-being in the wake of this distressing incident, as reported by Smile FM.
Law enforcement has also entered the fray, with the South African Police Service (SAPS) investigating allegations of sexual harassment and assault related to this case.
Outrage has grown among community members, particularly from the learner’s mother, who expressed her shock and disappointment upon discovering provocative text messages exchanged between her child and the teacher.
She has since called for accountability and immediate action against those responsible, demanding that appropriate measures be taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur.
On Tuesday, Cape {town} Etc reported that a 47-year-old woman and her 48-year-old husband were arrested in Bloubergstrand, Western Cape, after police discovered they had been sexually abusing their two young daughters, aged 3 and 8.
The couple was taken down in a dramatic raid on Tuesday, 10 June 2025, led by the South African Police Service (SAPS) with help from the FBI and Homeland Security. Investigators believe the parents not only raped and assaulted their own children but also filmed the abuse to share online.
Cops stormed the house after tracking digital evidence, seizing phones, computers, and other devices suspected of storing horrific footage.
The suspects now face charges of rape, sexual assault, grooming, and producing child abuse material.
Also read:
Father handed 35 years for creating pornography involving his children
Picture: Unsplash
