Motshekga denies sex offenders are still teaching

Close to 300 complaints of sexual abuse had been received by the South African Council of Educators but several perpetrators, who were found guilty, are still teaching

The minister of basic education, Angie Motshekga, has disputed media reports which claiming that the teachers found guilty of sexual offences against learners were still in classrooms doing their jobs.

This report came after a national tabloid newspaper reported that basic education minister, Angie Motshekga, had revealed that 45 percent of the teachers who have been found guilty of sexual offences in the past three years are still in the classroom.

Motshekga was replying to a parliamentary question posed by Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Member of Parliament (MP), Annette Lovemore.

The article quotes Motshekga disclosing that 289 complaints of sexual abuse had been received by the South African Council of Educators (SACE) and that 62 teachers who were found guilty are still teaching.

“Motshekga said that the 62 teachers were allowed to continue their profession on a condition that they do not make themselves guilty of misconduct during the period of suspension.

“She (Motshekga) also revealed that of the 289 complaints, 67 teachers had been permanently struck off the teachers’ roll. However, only 136 cases had been finalised in the past three years. The number of complaints against teachers increased from 78 to 126 between 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 financial year,” said the article.

The minister found the report was sensationalised and exaggerated.

Motshekga said the department of basic education takes sexual violence in schools extremely seriously; hence it launched the Stop Rape campaign on February 28 and March 1, 2013, with President Jacob Zuma.

She said the department will continue to condemn sexual abuse and encourage learners to report every case. The department guarantees speedy action against any teacher found guilty of violating learners’ rights.

Motshekga said the department has recorded 289 reported cases of sexual abuse by teachers in the period of 2009 to 2012.

“A total of 227 out of 289 cases have been resolved with either an outright dismissal or removal of the teachers off the roll or suspension and warning for teachers not to be guilty of such misconduct during the period of suspension.”

The spokeswomen for the basic education ministry, Hope Mokgatlhe said SACE, which is responsible for monitoring adherence to the teachers’ code of conduct has prosecuted these cases.

Mokgatlhe said the punishment should fit the crime. She said, for an example, if a teacher was to be found guilty of making sexual advances at a learner, it 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 department of basic education and South African Council of Educators.”