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Outrage in Parliament over teacher-learner sex scandals

Details

parliamentSunday Tribune reports that MPs have expressed outrage following a report by the SA Council for Educators (SACE) over the alarming number of teachers accused of having sexual relations with learners.

The report, tabled before Parliament’s portfolio committee on basic education last week, revealed 606 cases of teacher misconduct in the 2024/2025 financial year, 127 of which involved sexual relations with learners. SACE chief executive Ella Mokgalane said the council was deeply troubled by the persistence of such cases. “We are worried because the number of reported cases keeps increasing. There are currently 606 in total, and of those, 127 involve teachers who continue to sleep with learners. If these teachers are found guilty, they are removed from the roll,” said Mokgalane. In the 2024/2025 financial year, 36 teachers were removed from the roll. Mokgalane added that investigations were being hampered by a lack of resources, with 379 cases from previous years, some dating back to 2022, still under investigation.

Committee chairperson Joy Maimela voiced frustration at the apparent lack of progress in curbing teacher misconduct. She asked what measures were in place to ensure that teachers found guilty of sexual offences never worked with children again and Mokgalane responded that offenders were blacklisted and barred from working with learners. The presentation revealed ongoing investigations into several disturbing incidents, including a rape case, a teacher accused of sleeping with a learner on school premises, teachers who courted learners, and others involving teachers who impregnated learners.

  • Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mhlengi Shangase at Sunday Tribune


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