File photo: Mossel Bay Advertiser
The State is currently sifting through more than 77 000 photographs found on the phone of a primary school teacher from Mossel Bay accused of rape, sexual assault and exposing children to pornography.
The 43-year-old Grade 7 teacher from Laerskool Park, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his children and alleged victims, appeared in court on Wednesday to apply for bail.
During proceedings, held in-camera, at the local Magistrates Court, the State said they have so far found 4 00 photographs believed to be male genitalia.
The teacher, who was arrested at the school in September, wants to be granted bail arguing that he had several health problems, was exposed to people using drugs in prison and that he had to see his family to discuss "the way forward".
The State, however, is disputing the accused's claim that he suffers from a heart condition and earlier said that he could be treated for his alleged hypertension in prison.
State Prosecutor Advocate Gerda Marx raised the concern that should the teacher be granted bail, his alleged victims would fear for their lives.
She argued that there was a possibility that the teacher would commit suicide and that the victims would then never get justice.
The teacher responded by stating that suicide was a sin and that he would therefore never consider it.
Victims allegedly under the control of teacher
Explicit details were led in court by the state on how the teacher manipulated his alleged victims, who were 13 and 14 years old at the time.
The State put it to the teacher that one of his victims had to endure months of threats, and that he even once rocked up at the house of one, where her father had to chase him away.
The accused would not comment on these statements.
Advocate Marx stated to the accused that he used condoms on some occasions when having sex with his victim, but she was forced to use the morning-after pill or do a pregnancy test on other occasions.
During bail proceedings, the teacher admitted to having an affair with one of the victims stating that they both decided to end things in 2021.
According to the state, one of the victims had to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital, to which the teacher said he was aware that she suffered from depression.
Adv Marx asked the teacher to hand over his previous phone as he had recently upgraded to a new one.
She said if granted bail, the teacher would destroy any evidence on the old device.
The accused said that he was not sure where his old device was.
The matter was postponed to the 15th of November as the defence wants to obtain medical reports.
The teacher remains behind bars.
