South Africa: Dance Teacher Convicted of Raping Seven Girls

The Khayelitsha dance teacher accused of raping seven schoolgirls from Khayelitsha over a two-year period was found guilty in the Khayelitsha Regional Court yesterday.

Magistrate Nonkosi Saba found Mlulami Gagu, 43, guilty of raping seven girls, two counts of displaying pornography to children and one of sexual grooming. Gagu was not found guilty of sexual assault.

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Saba’s decision was welcomed by NPA and the family of the accused.

Saba, said, “Evidence put before court by the complainants were clear and loyal. Their statements were corresponding”

The rapes only came to light at the beginning of February 2010 when one of the victims told a friend of their ordeal, following which the friend told a teacher who reported the matter to the police.

Gagu was arrested in his home at Oudtshoorn 6 May 2010, after he run away from Enkanini in Khayelitsha following the accusations.

Gagu would ask two of the girls to stay behind after class to help clean up and then lock the door and rape them. He would them bribe them to obtain their silence or threaten them with a knife and tell them he would kill their family members if they told anyone.

Gagu has a previous conviction of sexual assault in June 2009 for which he received a five year suspended sentence.

Gagu’s aunt Nosango Matolweni, 64, said the conviction was “painful” but she believed Gagu was guilty.

“The family is talking about this but they scared to come here. We know he raped those children,” she said.

National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the NPA welcomed the conviction.

“What happened to these families of Khayelitsha was very bad. The families trusted him (Gagu),” he said.

Judgement was set for October 29.

This article was written by Nombulelo Damba and originally published on allafrica