FORMER TEACHER SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS FOR RAPE OF A LEARNER
The Nelspruit Sexual Offences Court convicted and sentenced a former teacher, Tshepo Innocent Chochi (34), from Kabokweni, to ten years imprisonment for raping a learner (18). Chochi was conducting extra lessons for learners who were struggling with Mathematics and Science, and the victim was one of the learners. Before the incident, the victim requested permission from their parents to attend the classes. The accused was compensated by the victim’s parents for the lessons offered.
On 09 March 2019, the accused called the victim’s aunt and told her to bring the victim for studies. Her aunt complied and accompanied her to the accused’s place, and left her with the accused. While busy studying, the electricity went off and the victim requested the accused to accompany her home. Chochi informed the victim that they will proceed to study using a lamp. Instead of studying, the accused started inappropriately touching the victim, ordered her to undress and raped her. The matter was reported and the accused was arrested.
In court, he pleaded not guilty, but Regional Court Prosecutor John Mahlwele, led evidence of the victim, her aunt, and a boyfriend and the court found their evidence credible, and Chochi was convicted. The state handed in a Victim Impact Statement, compiled by the Court Preparation Officer Zodwa Lekhuleni. In her statement, the victim showed that the incident had psychologically and permanently scared her. The court found no compelling reasons to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.
The National Prosecuting Authority acknowledge the conviction and sentence and remains committed to vigorously fighting the scourge of gender-based violence.
