Kenyan national in court for alleged rape and sexual grooming of school learners

A 44-year-old Kenyan national has appeared in the Groblersdal Magistrates’ Court in Limpopo on two counts of rape and two counts of sexual grooming involving school learners.

The identity of the accused is being withheld to protect the identities of the child complainants and prevent secondary victimisation.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the alleged offences date back to 2022, when the accused allegedly recruited learners from a local school and took them to his rented room in Groblersdal.

He allegedly filmed the children naked, gave them money and compelled them to perform sexual acts on him, allegedly promising to give them cellphones.

The matter came to light after some of the alleged victims were instructed to recruit other learners from the same school. The information was subsequently disclosed at the school and reported to police.

The accused was arrested and appeared in court, where the State opposed his release on bail.

The matter was postponed to 23 September 2026 for the accused to obtain legal representation and for further investigations. He remains in custody.

The NPA said it regarded allegations of sexual offences against children in a serious light and would prioritise the prosecution of the matter, taking into account the vulnerability of the complainants.