The Eastern Cape Department of Education had placed the Ludidi High School educator in Matatiele on precautionary suspension following allegations
of sexual abusing a Grade 12 learner, recently.
According to spokesperson for the Department of Education, Mali Mtima
the incident, according to the preliminary report, occurred during school hours
after the alleged perpetrator and the victim dropped off a sick learner at a
local clinic.
He said that the victim opened a case with the local South African
Police Service (SAPS, who (SAPS) in turn informed the school, then the school
management who were to communicate these sexual abuse allegations to the School
Governing Body (SGB).
“Furthermore, the police also took the victim to a local Thuthuzela Care
Centre in Matatiele for requisite medical support on the same day of the
incident. The alleged perpetrator has since been incarcerated by the police
while their investigation is still underway.
Upon learning about this,
the department dispatched a team comprised of the Circuit Manager, Education
Psychologist and Social Worker to the school for provision of support to the
victim and to kickstart an investigation on this matter,” said Mtima.
He added that as part of conducting this internal investigation, the
team held a session with the affected learner and her parents on June 3, 2024,
for purpose of taking statement of the said learner.
Mtima added that placing the alleged perpetrator on precautionary
suspension while the investigation is underway is meant to protect the right of
the learner to education. Furthermore, the department has activated
psychosocial support for intervention and support to the learner and affected
peers.
He confirmed that the Alfred West District is finalizing the appointment
of a substitute educator to perform the duties of the suspended educator to
ensure that teaching and learning is not interrupted by the ordeal.
MEC for the Department of Education, Fundile Gade cautioned all
educators against abusing learners, whom they are supposed to protect and
nurture.
“Our Labour Relations and Human Resource Development has been
dispatched to investigate these allegations and pursue necessary disciplinary
proceedings against all alleged educators. Educators have the responsibility of
looking after these teenagers. Actions of this nature do not only break
the mutual trust parents and children have in the teachers, but rather betray
such trust,” said Gade.
He added that they regard all their schools as the safe ground to
develop responsible citizens, and occurrences like this defeat this purpose, and
should be met with the ruggedness they deserve.
According to him, the school has been advised to develop an academic
support program for the affected Grade 12 class by the district office.
“The learners were also assembled for debriefing so that they can
continue with their mid-year examinations while authorities attend to the
case.”
