A school teacher who was arrested for allegedly locking a six-year-old pupil in a school’s storage room for a whole night was granted bail of R2 000 on Monday by the Magistrate’s Court in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga.
The 30-year-old teacher Fikile Nkambule, was arrested on Friday and charged with kidnapping and child neglect.
Presenting the bail application in court on Monday, Nkambule’s defence lawyer who was only identified as Advocate Zwane, asked the court to grant her client bail for several reasons, which included the fact that she is four months pregnant, a first-time offender and the mother to a nine-year-old child.
Nkambule also handed herself over to police when she heard that they were looking for her.
The incident happened last week Wednesday at the Blackhill Primary school in Emalahleni.
Nkambula locked the child in the storage room earlier in the day and allegedly forgot about him when she left work in the afternoon.
The family became worried when the child did not return home and contacted the police.
The Education Department has since suspended the teacher and has offered counselling to both the child and his parents.
-African News Agency
