The ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) in Lwandle has raised alarm over a primary school teacher accused of gender-based violence being allowed to return to work while facing criminal charges.

ANCWL members gathered at the Strand Magistrates’ Court to show support for the alleged victim and voice concerns about the teacher’s return when the accused reappeared in the dock on Friday 14 August.

Phumla Mpotulo, branch secretary of the ANC in Ward 86, questioned why the teacher was allowed back to teach impressionable young girls and the precedent this sets for his learners.

“If he is affecting adult women in society and then he goes and serves in the school where we have young girls, we are really concerned about that,” said Mpotulo.

Chwayita Bhuqa, a member of the ANCWL and the school’s governing body, said they tried to prevent the teacher’s return.

“We were worried about the safety of the children, but the provincial education department said because the incident did not take place at school, he would be allowed back,” explained Bhuqa.

The teacher faces charges of housebreaking, malicious damage to property, contravention of a protection order and assault relating to a 33-year-old woman with whom he had been in an 11-month relationship (“Local teacher in the dock in Strand,” DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 20 May).

He was apparently granted R500 bail in the first case in May and R300 bail in the second case.

The department previously stated the teacher was not suspended as the matter is domestic in nature and unrelated to the school environment.

Departmental spokesperson Bronagh Hammond confirmed the department learned of the bail outcome after the school informed the department’s Labour Relations directorate on Monday 27 July.

The teacher resumed teaching on Monday 3 August.

Hammond said that because his bail conditions did not prohibit him from returning to work, the decision was made in consultation with the

Labour Relations Directorate to allow him to resume duty.

“[The teacher] remains an employee of the Western Cape Education Department, and no finding has been made by a court of law regarding the charges against him,” said Hammond.

Asked whether parents were informed of the decision, Hammond stated the department does not generally comment publicly on confidential personnel matters but confirmed the department has engaged with the school.

“The department understands that allegations relating to gender-based violence are

matters of serious public concern,” she said.

“At the same time, the department is required to act within the law and to respect due process.”

Hammond said the department has received no formal complaints regarding the teacher’s return to school.

The case has been postponed to Friday 11 September.