Teacher flees sodomy probe

Angeline Mpofu Chronicle Reporter
A TEACHER from Sizane High School in Bulawayo is on the run after police opened an investigation into alleged sex attacks on boys.
Investigators say at least one boy, a Form Two pupil, has come forward to reveal that he had been abused on several occasions since last year.

Police would not name the teacher yesterday, but multiple sources have identified him as Qinisa Fuyana, who played for the national volleyball team in the 1990s.

Assistant Inspector Bekimpilo Ndlovu of Bulawayo Police said investigators were looking into claims that the teacher made the pupil watch a pornographic video, and then performed a sex act on him in a storeroom at the school in Pelandaba suburb.

Assistant Inspector Ndlovu added: “We encourage children to report such cases to help us arrest the culprits. We’re also appealing to members of the public to assist us with any information that can lead to the arrest of the suspect.”

A teacher at the school told Chronicle: “It’s now a week since Fuyana disappeared and no-one knows his whereabouts. He lured a Form Two pupil into his storeroom, showed him a pornographic video and masturbated in front of the pupil.

“He went on to sodomise the boy and told him not to reveal the matter to anyone.”
The boy reportedly told his parents who called in the police.

“On realising that he had been exposed, Fuyana disappeared and did not report for work. We are looking for him as a school,” the teacher added.

A relative of Fuyana who spoke to Chronicle on condition they were not named said: “All I can tell you is that we’re going to hold a family meeting to discuss the issue. I don’t know his whereabouts.”

Mrs Nobuhle Moyo, a resident of Pelandaba, described Fuyana as a “suspicious teacher whose behaviour was difficult to understand.”
“He was too close to some of the pupils. He used to hang around with pupils and we didn’t think it would eventually lead to this. He spent most of his time joking with school pupils,” said Mrs Moyo.

A former teammate of his in the national volleyball team described him as a “shady” character with an “unhealthy penchant for hanging out with young boys”.

“Let’s just say I’m only surprised that only one boy is talking to the police. There were similar whispers in 1998/99 and I think that case was suppressed. Expect more,” said the former player, who also asked not to be named.