HeraldLive reports that a Limpopo teacher accused of buying alcohol for a pupil and fondling her is recovering in hospital after he was attacked by members of the community.  

Footage of the attack went viral on social media with the community of Namakgale in Phalaborwa accusing the teacher of abuse.  But, provincial department of education spokesperson Sam Makondo said that, unless the pupil provided a contrary statement, there was no basis to believe the teacher had attempted to have sex with her.  The teacher claimed he neither bought alcohol for the pupil nor attempted to have sex with her.  Speaking from his hospital bed on Tuesday, he said he had accompanied the pupil home to talk to her parents about her poor schoolwork.  Her parents were not home and when he was returning to the school with the pupil in his car he was stopped by occupants in unknown car.  Suddenly he was under attack without being given an opportunity to provide an explanation as to why he was in the company of the pupil.  The teacher said he was fortunate that a prominent person who was passing by came to his rescue and saved his life.  But, the pupil's mother rejected the teacher's version, saying:  "My daughter told me she screamed for help when the teacher was fondling her [and that's when he was stopped]."

• Read the original of Frank Maponya’s report on this story at HeraldLive

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