Sex offender teachers are not in our classrooms

15 Mar 2013

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has refuted media claims that teachers found guilty of sexual offences against learners are still in schools, teaching with impunity.

The Department of Basic Education has on record 289 reported cases of sexual abuse by teachers in the period between 2009 to 2012. A total of 227 of these cases have been resolved with either an outright dismissal and removal of the teachers off the roll, or a suspension and warning for those teachers not to make themselves guilty of such misconduct during their period of suspension.

In her response to the National Assembly, Question 54 for Oral Reply (05/2013), the Minister explained in detail why some cases do not merit a dismissal. The South African Council of Educators (SACE), which is responsible for monitoring adherence to the Code of Conduct of teachers, has also offered an explanation in the form of an example, that if a teacher was to be found guilty of making sexual advances at a learner, such is a case which merits a disciplinary hearing, and not always necessarily a dismissal.

These are the type of offender teachers, who despite being found guilty, may be allowed back in class with a warning, and after a full investigation by both the DBE and SACE.

The Minister therefore finds the newspaper article in The Times, March 15 disturbing, sensationalist and exaggerated (see here). The Department of Basic Education takes sexual violence in schools extremely seriously, hence the launch of the Stop Rape campaign with President Jacob Zuma on 28 February and 1 March 2013. We will continue to condemn sexual abuse of learners, to encourage them to report every case, and guarantee speedy action against any teacher found guilty of violating our learners' rights.

Statement issued by Hope Mokgatlhe, Department of Basic Education, March 15 2013

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