SACE compromise child safety by failing to vet teachers against the Sexual Offenders register, as required by law
The South African Council of Educators (SACE) admitted in a reply to a DA Parliamentary Question that it has only recently attempted to access the National Register for Sex Offenders or the Child Protection Register.
Today marks the start of Child Protection Week and the admission by SACE that they have never checked teachers against the registers is a damning indictment against the body as well as the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga.
This admission means that for at least 10 years, people who are not fit to teach our children may have been granted licences to do just that because SACE has not complied with the law and checked these vital registers.
The Child Protection Register and Sex Offenders Register are crucial for protecting our learners from predatory school staff.