For over ten years, they were accused of impregnating a number of school girls but nothing was done against them. This week, the two teachers from Bonkolo Secondary School were put on precautionary suspension by the provincial Department of Education.

IT'S BEEN YEARS

It is alleged that parents retaliated when they discovered that this has been ongoing since 2012. This school, in particular, has been recorded to have a history of a high learner pregnancy rate in the province. Last year alone, more than 20 learners fell pregnant. One of the parents who refused to be identified, said they were shocked that the school governing body and other teachers knew about the allegations for years. The latest pregnancy at the school is of an 18 -year-old who was allegedly impregnated by one of the suspended teachers. "We don't know what's happening, the school isn't involving us and the SGB that is supposed to be at the forefront of protecting learner rights didn't even attend the meeting. Somebody needs to be held accountable, we still want answers about why they let this cruelty go on for years," she said. 

ROTTEN TEACHERS

The director of the children's rights group,Khule Community Development Trust, Petros Majola, has called for the expulsion of the involved educators should they be found guilty. "As per the provisions of Section 17 1c of the Employment of Educators Act, they cannot have any sexual relationships with the learners and therefore they have committed a crime, should they be found guilty. But at the same time I want to appeal to members of the community, learners, and other people around the school community to allow the processes of investigation has been completed."

DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATING

The Provincial Department of Education spokesperson, Vuyiseka Mboxela confirmed that two educators from the school have been suspended and that they have launched an investigation into the allegations. "There are two individuals that have been out on precautionary suspension in Bonkolo. Those two individuals are the school principal and also an educator for an investigation that is taking place. We can also indicate that the school will be visited by district officials and also by the labour side of the department to make sure that the needed information to continue with the investigation is found quickly and also to make sure that a determination is reached in no time," says Mboxela.