IVORY PARK TEACHER RAPE CASE POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER AND GDE CONFIRMS SUSPENSION
The rape case involving Ivory Park Secondary School mathematics teacher Edward Steven Zunguza has been postponed to 8 September 2026.
Zunguza appeared before the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on 13 August 2026, where the matter was postponed in connection with the trial-readiness process and further investigations.
The 37-year-old educator is accused of raping a 17-year-old learner from Ivory Park Secondary School in an incident alleged to have happened on Christmas Day last year.
Following a media enquiry from KAE News, the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) confirmed that Zunguza has been placed on precautionary suspension pending the outcome of the Department’s internal disciplinary process.
The Department stressed that its internal proceedings are independent of the criminal case before the court.
The GDE also confirmed that Zunguza remains an employee of the Department while the internal processes are underway.
The Department said that psychosocial debriefing and counselling was provided to those affected by the incident.
It further confirmed that the affected learner has since been placed at a different school.
The case dates back to allegations arising from an incident said to have occurred on 25 December 2025.
According to information previously provided by the GDE, the learner was in Grade 11 at the time of the alleged incident and was later in Grade 12 when the matter was formally reported.
The Department previously indicated that the educator had allegedly been providing the learner with private tutoring outside official school hours at his residence, where the alleged incident is said to have occurred.
The learner’s mother formally reported the matter to the school principal on 2 March 2026.
Zunguza was arrested on 4 March 2026 in Birchleigh North by members of Norkem Park SAPS.
He was subsequently charged with rape and remained in custody while awaiting his formal bail application.
On 17 March 2026, Zunguza was granted bail.
During the bail proceedings, he denied the allegations and indicated that he intended to plead not guilty. He also told the court that he was cooperating with the investigating officer.
The State informed the court that the complainant did not oppose the granting of bail.
The court imposed strict bail conditions, including that Zunguza may not directly or indirectly contact the complainant, her family or any witnesses.
He was also prohibited from coming within 50 metres of Ivory Park Secondary School.
Any breach of the bail conditions could result in his arrest.
The matter has been postponed several times as investigations continue.
It was previously postponed on 6 May 2026 pending a forensic report compiled by a social worker, before being postponed again on 3 July 2026 for further investigation.
Following the latest appearance on 13 August, the matter is now scheduled to return to the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on 8 September 2026 for the trial-readiness process and further investigations.
Zunguza remains out on bail under the conditions imposed by the court.
The criminal allegations against him remain before the court, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
KAE News will continue to follow the case and report on developments as the matter progresses.
