In a crisis plaguing South African schools, the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) has confirmed 111 cases of sexual harassment and abuse of learners by teachers were referred to them in the 2024/2025 financial year.

The shocking figure is 29 cases more compared to the previous year, when 82 cases of sexual harassment and abuse by teachers were referred to the council.

The province leading with the highest number of cases referred for 2024/25 is KwaZulu-Natal with 25 - an increase of 14 cases compared to the previous year, followed by the Eastern Cape with 21, Gauteng with 16, the Western Cape and Free State both with 12, Mpumalanga with 10 and North West recording seven.

Education MEC David Maynier's spokesperson, Kerry Mauchline, said six teachers were dismissed following seven cases of sexual assault of learners allegedly by teachers and public service staff for the year 2024/25.

She said data for 2024/25 was currently being finalised and that the figures include both teachers and public service staff, and includes incidents that did not occur on school property.

“We obtained data from our Labour Relations directorate on cases involving sexual assault,” she said.

“We have seen a decrease in cases in 2024/25 (7 cases) compared to 2023/24 (15 cases).

“Of the 7 cases, 6 of the staff were dismissed, and one was suspended without pay.

“The WCED has strict protocols in place when an incident of sexual assault, or any form of assault or abuse, occurs at a school.”

Mauchline said with the growing cases, staff were trained on how to manage sensitive cases.

The statistics come as South Africa battles a scourge of gender-based violence.

A national shutdown last week demanded the resignation of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, amid slow progress in the investigation into the rape of 7-year-old Cwecwe on the premises of Bergview College in the Eastern Cape.

Department of Basic Education (DBE) spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, said they deemed such crimes as serious.

"The department works with various stakeholders to isolate and punish those in the sector who have committed these heinous crimes," he said.

“The department has implemented the Comprehensive Sexuality Education as an approach aimed at empowering young people to identify potential danger, learn how to report and provide evidence that can be used to prosecute perpetrators."

Childline CEO, Dumisile Cele, called for those accused to have their names added to the Child Protection Register within the Children’s Act.

“We note the statistics on abuse of children and young people within the institutions of learning.

"We know that these cases do not always come to the attention of authorities. It is therefore possible that there is underreporting of these cases,” Cele said.

“The reported statistics and the noted increase from the previous year is of great concern.

"We must all demand to know about the safeguarding policies in our children’s schools. Demand to know the procedures followed in dealing with cases reported in the school and the outcome of those cases.

"We also know that educators tend to move from one school to the other.

"It is therefore important that those found to have committed crimes against children be it through the courts or the schools’ disciplinary procedures are reported to the correct authorities for example Part B of the Child Protection register within the Children’s Act.

"This will ensure that they are noted as individuals not suitable to work with children and when the potential employees conduct the necessary checks they have access to this information.”

Western Cape Children’s Commissioner, Christina Nomdo’s office said they were not in a position to comment.

Cape Argus

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Shocking rise in sexual harassment cases in South African schools