Almost 30 Eastern Cape educators, including five school principals and two deputy principals, have been implicated in sexually related offences in the past year.
They are facing charges relating to sexual assault on pupils, sexual harassment of pupils and colleagues or having sexual relationships with their pupils.
With the escalation of cases of the “disgraceful scourge” in all 12 of the Eastern Cape’s education districts, the provincial government says it is “swimming against the tide”.
The 26 educators, plus a school security guard from the Joe Gqabi and Chris Hani west education district, and a housekeeper from OR Tambo Inland, have been flagged in a report recently submitted by education MEC Fundile Gade to the Bhisho legislature.
While some of these educators had since been found guilty of the assaults and dismissed, some cases are ongoing, and others cases had much more recently been reported to police.
Responding to parliamentary questions posed by DA MPL Horatio Hendricks, Gade revealed that five Eastern Cape school principals had been flagged in allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault of their pupilsThree of them are alleged to have had sexual relationships with young pupils.
The three are based in the Amathole East, OR Tambo coastal and Sarah Baartman education districts. The other two principals, facing other sexually related charges, are based in Buffalo City Metro and Sarah Baartman.
According to Gade, four educators in OR Tambo coastal, four in Alfred Nzo west, four in Amathole west, three in Amathole east, three in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro, two in OR Tambo Inland, two in BCM and two at Sarah Baartman education districts have been implicated in the past year.
Two deputy principals have been accused of violating pupils, Gade revealed.
The implicated educators have been reported to police and the SA Council for Educators, the body responsible for registering educators, promoting professional development and maintaining ethical teaching standards.
Some cases, Gade said, had been referred to the Education Labour Relations Council.
Some had escaped with a slap on the wrist with written warnings and short-term suspensions. Some had their salaries docked.
Of concern, Gade said, was the withdrawal of some cases as a result of pupils refusing to testify, either at hearings or in court, resulting in some allegations being withdrawn and suspected perpetrators escaping with minor sanctions.
He said on Monday that that gender-based violence, femicides and rapes at provincial schools were a serious concern, especially in the basic education sector, as most of the affected pupils were minors.
“In terms of the law, when children are coming to school ... we become parents to them, so anyone who mishandles them by having sexual relations with them deserves to face the might of the law.
“The challenge in many cases is witnesses or victims who refuse to testify, resulting in those implicated escaping with minor sanctions.
“However, these are dismissible offences. As a province we are cleaning up the house, but we are swimming against the tide.
“This is because these issues of rape and gender-based violence are predominantly overwhelming society, so schools are just the tip of the iceberg,” Gade said.
Hendricks said as much as the horrific case of Cwecwe had brought the abuse of minors in schools into the public space, it was “not an isolated tragedy, but a devastating pattern”.
Thousands of people have marched in cities across the country, while hundreds of thousands have signed a petition demanding justice for a seven-year-old girl in Matatiele who was raped.
Hendricks said: “The department’s own 2024 suspension records highlighted that 22 educators were suspended for serious misconduct involving learners, but many predatory sexual deviant cases remain unresolved, with investigations still ongoing and disciplinary hearings delayed.
“These figures are not just numbers andthey represent a system that responds reactively, instead of proactively, to safeguarding children. A system that delays justice is complicit in harm.
“Allegations of sexual assault, misconduct, harassment and rape do not belong in schools. This demonstrates how pervasive rape culture is, even infiltrating the very institutions that should be dedicated to nurturing and protecting the future of our children.
“It is an inexcusable betrayal when someone in a position of responsibility, particularly a school principal, betrays this sacred trust.”
Masimanyane Women & Children’s Rights International’s Dr Lesley Ann Foster said the latest figures were “frightening, worrying and deeply concerning”.
“It is horrific that people in power, especially principals and deputy principals, are some of those taking advantage of the vulnerable within their care.
“That shows the calibre of people occupying these positions. It’s absolutely shocking that there are no morals and ethical fibre.
“It is also a concern that the department can fire a perpetrator, but cannot prevent them from working somewhere else, where they will continue doing this to other innocent children.
“This speaks to a lack of due diligence by the departments affected,” Foster said.
Children’s rights activist Petros Majola said the law obligated people with knowledge of crimes, including sexual relationships with minors and sexual assault, to report them to authorities.
He said the rise in sexual abuse cases perpetrated against pupils was of deep concern.
Daily Dispatch
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