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News24 reports that despite a Department of Basic Education directive that all officials and educators, including those in office- and school-based posts, must be vetted against the National Register for Sex Offenders, only 19% have been vetted nationally.
This is according to a response from Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube to the IFP's Liezl van der Merwe. Gwarube said there were two national registers relevant to suitability checks. There is the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO), maintained by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, which helps prevent listed people from being employed or placed in positions of authority, supervision or care over vulnerable persons, including children. There is also the National Child Protection Register (NCPR), maintained by the Department of Social Development, which includes people deemed unsuitable to work with children due to abuse, neglect or exploitation. Employers of persons who will be employed at schools are legally required to conduct suitability checks before finalising any appointment or immediately terminate employment if an individual is found to be listed on the NRSO or NCPR. According to Gwarube's answer, out of the 405,738 teachers nationwide on 31 December 2024, only 78,509, or 19%, had been vetted. In Limpopo, none of the province's teachers had been vetted by 31 March, and in the Eastern Cape, only 5%, and in KwaZulu-Natal, only 7%. The other provinces ranged between the Free State's 53% and the Northern Cape's 20%.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jan Gerber at News24 (subscription or trial registration required)
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page