BOSA demands Sexual Offenders Register is made public at all schools for parents to make sure predators are not teaching their children
17 April 2024
Today Build One South Africa (BOSA) Leader, Mmusi Maimane, alongside BOSA candidates, held a picket outside the Northern Cape Department of Education in Kimberley.
The picket was in solidarity with parents and families demanding justice and action against several teachers and principals in the public schooling system who have had cases of sexual assault opened against them with the police.
To date, at least 15 young girls, who wish to remain anonymous, have reported acts of sexual assault by teachers and principals. Despite this, the Northern Cape Department of Education continues to act in an antagonistic manner towards parents who are seeking accountability for these heinous acts.
School should be a safe environment for every child. However, in this province it is not the case. It is not only these 15 cases that are currently open – there is a string before them.
In September 2017, Two Northern Cape teachers were arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting and attempting to rape pupils at Bothitong High School.
In November 2020, the police arrested a man in connection with the rape of a 13-year-old girl at a Kimberley primary school.
In July 2021, a teacher at a Northern Cape high school was banned from working with children after he was found guilty of the statutory rape of a grade 7 girl from a nearby primary school.
In April 2022, a Life Orientation school teacher at a Jan Kempdorp Primary School was placed on precautionary suspension following allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him.
In February 2024, a senior official in the DoE's Human Resources Department was placed on precautionary suspension following allegations of sexual assault and rape against him by two female workers.
There is a child sexual abuse epidemic in this province and it must be eradicated immediately.
In order to ensure justice for the 15 young girls that have made complaints, BOSA will monitor the cases with the SAPS and justice system.
To prevent further cases from happening, we are today calling for the Sexual Offenders Register to be made public and viewable at all schools so that parents can make sure predators are not teaching their children.
There are almost 500 000 teachers in the public schooling system and while there has been a commitment last year to do so, there is no way to tell if every single one has been checked against the offenders register by their school or the department.
In addition, the National Department of Basic Education (DBE) ought to make it a stern requirement that every single potential employee obtains and presents a full police clearance, including proof of clearance from the Sexual Offenders Register.
In this particular case involving the Northern Cape Department of Education, we are making the following demands in our memorandum, handed over today:
- The prompt release of the findings of the report into violations of women and children within the Department of Education which was handed over to the MEC of Education by the Premier
- Immediate suspension of individuals accused of sexual assault within the DoE and any school in the province
- Release of SAPS clearance reports of all senior officials within the Department of Education.
- An immediate audit of all employees of the Department of Education to ascertain who has been cleared by SAPS and who has not.
- Implementation of police clearance reports for all senior officials within the Department of Education, as well as all educators employed at schools across the province.
Children as young as 8 years old are being sexually assaulted and at least 30 children have been impregnated by teachers and principals in this province.
The Northern Cape Education Department needs to clean house and account to the people for the wrongs committed, omissions, and possible cover ups. BOSA will not rest until justice is served.
Issued by Roger Solomons, BOSA Acting Spokesperson, 17 April 2024
