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An educator in the Western Cape, Jeremy Claasen, will spend the rest of his life behind bars for raping a minor during school hours.
According to the State, Claasen groomed the victim before assaulting her in his classroom. His alibi was dismissed, and the court found no grounds for leniency, citing his abuse of authority.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the 38-year-old started chatting with the victim on social media platforms after she joined the school in Grade 7.
“He was her Life Orientation teacher. He built a relationship of trust with her. On the 07 February 2020 she went to his class to charge her phone and her made advances at her and he raped her in the classroom she confided in a friend, who then told another teacher at the school,” he added.
