Headmaster in student sex storm

A HEADMASTER at Tshelanyemba High School in Kezi is locked in a sex storm amid allegations that he asked out and engaged in a sexual relationship with one of his Form Four pupils, leading to the local community reporting the matter to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.

According to sources at the school, Mr Ezekiel Hleza, a renowned author allegedly had an affair with his pupil who is also a top athlete at the school, to the extent of also using school funds to spoil her.

Mr Hleza is the author of three novels, two in iSiNdebele - Emfuleni Wezinyembezi and Uyangisinda Lumhlaba and an English historical novel; Don't Cry For Me.

Confirming the recent developments, Matabeleland South provincial education director Mrs Tumisang Tabela said they had since instructed their district office to investigate the matter.

"I know that district officials were at the school to investigate the matter. I am now waiting for the full report so that we institute the necessary disciplinary measures if he is found to have engaged in this relationship," said Mrs Tabela.

Contacted for comment, Mr Hleza could neither confirm nor deny the allegations referring this reporter to the district education office.

"Pertaining that matter I am not allowed to comment, please can you contact our district offices," he said.

When a Sunday News crew visited the school last Friday parents, teachers and pupils confirmed the affair claiming that the issue came out in the open when the pupil confided to her friends who then went on to report the matter to female teachers at the school.

"Yes, there is such a matter, we understand it all started with the head sending the pupil money and giving her all sorts of favours after she came from Colombia. As teachers we then went and confronted him but he denied. However, we were shocked when we later learnt that the affair was still ongoing. When the district officials came a couple of weeks ago we told them the truth and we hope they will act on the matter as there is already suspicion that they want to sweep the matter under the carpet but the truth is that this issue is out in the open, everyone knows it," said one of the teachers who preferred anonymity for professional reasons.

Sunday News also managed to interview the Tshelanyemba senior village head, Mr Samuel Toloke Nyathi who also confirmed that they were "problems" being faced at the school revealing that it all started with the school creating a bush boarding school facility for some pupils doing Form Four and Upper Sixth.

"I know that this all started with that bush boarding facility, of which I believe the intentions were noble as some of the students stay far," said Mr Nyathi.

Some of the teachers interviewed revealed that one of their colleagues had gone absent without official leave after his affair with an Upper Six pupil had been discovered when the pupil suffered a miscarriage.