A 25-year-old medical student and maths tutor – charged with raping and sexually assaulting six boys – was denied bail after his appearance in the Randburg Regional Court last Thursday, reports News24.
It is alleged he targeted boys with single mothers in the Randburg complex where he lives.
The 25-year-old, who cannot be named until he formally pleads because of the nature of the charges against him, is facing nine counts, which include one of rape, six of sexual assault and two of grooming, relating to incidents involving six boys aged between 10 and 14.
In an affidavit filed in opposition to bail on Thursday, investigating officer Detective Constable Tsholofelo Modisapodi said that according to an 11-year-old boy’s mother, the man moved into their complex around five years ago and “got along with everyone”.
“He befriended the children and liked to play with them. He also took them to the swimming pool in the complex as they were not allowed there without supervision.”
Last August, the mother learnt the man was giving extra maths lessons and hired him to tutor her son.
Earlier this year, however, a new woman who had moved into the complex raised her discomfort in a community WhatsApp chat about the man.
The 11-year-old boy’s mother confronted her son, and eventually he admitted the man had molested him.
He said the man would follow him into the bathroom when they went swimming to “check” his private parts, and that he had done the same thing to other boys. He also claimed the man had taken nude photographs of him and shown him and the other boys “naked pictures of women and women dancing”.
Modisapodi said the man had contacted the mother to try to talk to her, and that her son now “lives in fear”.
“I strongly believe he should not be granted bail …we do not know how many other kids have been affected outside. I am also scared and anxious.”
In his application in support of bail, the man indicated he planned to plead not guilty but did not disclose the basis of his defence.
“I am a final-year Master of Cancer MSc (Med) by dissertation (student) at Wits University of Johannesburg,” he said.
“My dissertation is due by the end of August for submission to enable internal and external evaluation of my thesis and receive my marks between November/December 2025 to be eligible for graduation in 2026. I need to be at the lab to finalise my research,” he stated.
“I have approximately four months to complete this degree, allowing me to find employment and sustain myself.”
Magistrate Abdul Kadir Khan said the court had to “weigh up all the factors”.
“As much as the court is sympathetic to the fact that (he) has come this far … on the other hand, the court has to guard against the fact that if (he) interferes with witnesses and victims in this matter, the criminal justice system or the bail system will be placed into disrepute.”
The case is due back in court on 28 August.
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Nurse accused of raping two boys
Dismissed nurse fights back in alleged sexual harassment case