A 35-year-old teacher in Mitchells Plain, accused of sending explicit content to a Grade 7 learner, has been arrested. The woman was taken into custody on Thursday.
This is after a sexual harassment case was opened against her at the Lentegeur Police Station. She was provisionally charged in terms of the Sexual Offences Act for exposing a child to pornography. The case is under investigation by the Mitchells Plain Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.
READ MORE: Mitchells Plain teacher allegedly sexually harassed a learner
“We can confirm that Lentegeur police opened a sexual harassment case for investigation. This case was transferred to Mitchells Plain FCS for further investigation,” said Western Cape police spokesperson, F.C Van Wyk.
Western Cape police spokesperson, F.C. Van Wyk, said the woman was arrested in Athlone on Thursday. She is expected to appear in the Mitchells Plain Magistrates Court.
According to reports, the suspect was a Grade R teacher at Harvester Primary School in Westridge. She has since resigned from her position.
Hours prior to her arrest, angry residents protested outside the school, demanding answers from the school’s management.
The arrest stems from an alleged incident on 26 May, in which the teacher allegedly sent a provocative video of herself to the learner.
The incident made headlines earlier this week, with the Western Cape Education Department advising that disciplinary action was being taken against the teacher. The matter was also taken up with the department’s Labour Relations Directorate.
This article has been updated with additional information.