The 48-year-old primary school principal who was arrested after he had allegedly raped a 13-year-old girl appeared before the Vuwani Magistrate's Court again last Tuesday.

The principal is facing charges of rape after he had allegedly raped the girl in the back of his car along the Vuwani-to-Masia road.  The case was postponed to 30 April.

The alleged incident was only reported in January this year, after the girl's mother had found out about her daughter's so-called affair with the principal. She then opened a case with the police. According to the police, it is alleged that the principal had given the girl R60 after he had had sex with her.

When he recently appeared in court, he was released on bail of R10 000. The principal was also suspended with full pay from his duties, with effect from 1 March this year.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the department, Mr Pat Kgomo, said that "The principal could be dismissed from the teaching profession if the investigation confirms that he had had sex with the girl."

The pupil, who was in Grade 7 last year, is now in Grade 8 at another school. The principal is also a pastor at a well-known church congregation.