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TimesLIVE reports that the 30-year-old Witbank teacher alleged to have locked a grade 1 learner in a strongroom at Blackhill Primary School and forgetting him there overnight is four months pregnant.
The teacher has been charged with a schedule five offence for child neglect and kidnapping. Submitting her bail application before the Witbank Magistrate's Court on Monday, Fikile Nkambule said in her affidavit that she was also a mother to a nine-year-old child and a positive contributor to society. Her lawyer requested that she be granted bail on the basis that she was a first-time offender, was formally employed, had a fixed address, was pregnant and co-operated with police upon learning of the pending charges. Magistrate Mdumiseni Mavuso granted her bail of R2,000, saying there was no reason to deny the request. But, Mavuso imposed strict bail conditions that Nkambule not contact the child, nor set foot near the school until the matter was finalised. The case was postponed to 26 April. The report from the counsellors who dealt with the child will be entered into evidence when court resumes in April. The six-year-old pupil was locked in the strongroom last Wednesday from 1.30pm, when the school day ended, until around 9.30am the following morning, when he was eventually found.
- Read the full original version of Naledi Shange’s report on this story at TimesLIVE
- Read too, Teacher released on bail after locking 6-year-old child in room overnight, at Independent News
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page