South African Council of Educators (SACE) has expressed concern over the growing number of cases against teachers accused of sexually abusing learners. For the past three years, 30 teachers have been fired after being found guilty of sexually abusing their learners. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga revealed this when responding to a written question by DA MP D?sir?e van der Walt in Parliament on Friday. Motshekga said the cases were probed by SACE, after receiving complaints from either parents or learners.  

CASES ON THE RISE

Motshekga said during the 2019/20 financial year, SACE investigated 92 sexual abuse cases against teachers. "This number increased in the following financial year where a total of 189 cases of sexual abuse were reported by learners. In the 2021/22 period the numbers further went up by almost 100%, as SACE investigated 191 sexual abuse cases in schools across the country and 17 teachers were found guilty and immediately struck off the roll." said Motshekga. During the following financial year, seven more teachers were found guilty of sexually abusing learners and struck off the roll. 

SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH LEARNES 

Motshekga said recently, four teachers were struck off the roll and three of them were having sexual relationships with learners. "The Department of Basic Education has in the past raised this concern where learners refuse to testify against teachers for sexually abusing them, some of the cases against teachers were dropped for a number of reasons, including where witnesses failed to cooperate with investigations." Motshekga said all the cases were finalised by the disciplinary tribunal. However, there were sexual abuse cases that were closed for the following reasons:" lack of evidence to substantiate the allegations, deliberate unavailability of witnesses (complainants) and refusal by witnesses to cooperate with the Sace investigation or disciplinary processes," said Motshekga.