Questions have been mounting since the news broke last week surrounding sexual misconduct allegations against a former teacher at Simond Private School in Paarl.
These allegations involve a teacher and learner at the school, who allegedly engaged in sexual activity during a school camp in March this year.
Read more: Teacher resigns amid abuse probe at Simond Private School
Since these allegations surfaced the accused male teacher resigned from the school while an internal investigation is still pending. Soon after Paarl Post‘s article was published last week, the school communicated with parents and guardians.
“We are aware of the article published in Paarl Post (16 April) regarding an incident involving a former staff member.
“We appreciate that the article may cause concern. The school is continuing to deal with the matter through appropriate processes, and the safety of our learners remain paramount. The school considers it important to clarify that, although complaints and allegations were received and the investigation remains ongoing, it has not, through the investigation to date or through its communications with the parties involved, received any complaint or information indicating that there was sexual intercourse with any learner at the camp,” the communication reads.
Parents and guardians were given the reassurance that the school will follow through with “a proper, responsible and thorough process” with regards to these serious allegations.
More sexual misconduct allegations
Last week Paarl Post also revealed that the alleged involved teacher was found guilty of sexual assault by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) in 2017 and dismissed. At that point in time this teacher was an employee of the department at a school in Cape Town’s Northern Suburbs.
In consequence of the dismissal, an indefinite prohibition on his reemployment within the Public Service was imposed. The matter was further reported to the South African Council for Educators (Sace) in terms of section 26 of the Employment of Educators Act.
Furthermore a case was opened against the teacher at Brackenfell police station in June 2017 in which he was charged and brought before court, but the matter was later withdrawn in court.
To date no incidents were reported to the police with regards to the latest allegations.
According to section 54 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007 (Act 32 of 2007), as amended every person has a duty to report any knowledge, reasonable belief or suspicion of a sexual offence committed against a vulnerable person. As defined in section 40 of this Act a vulnerable person includes children and persons with mental disabilities.
This Act continues to state that in terms of Section 54 (2) (a) and 54 (2) (b) it is a criminal offence to not report any allegation of suspicion of a sexual crime against a vulnerable person at the police. Failure to report can result in a fine or imprisonment of up to five years or both.
This week Paarl Post followed up on enquiries sent to Sace almost two weeks ago. The organisation said it needed more time before they will provide feedback.
In November last year the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education put the spotlight on sexual misconduct by educators in schools. The committee insist on stronger laws, better coordination, and stricter oversight to address such misconduct. Also in attendance at the meeting was Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) and Sace.
ALSO READ: A total of 176 teachers found guilty of sexual misconduct, Parliament told
According to ELRC’s statistics out of 211 referral cases for allegations of sexual misconduct, against both boys and girls, 176 educators were found guilty. This is the outcome from the financial years 2021/22 to 2025/26. All the cases where educators were found guilty were submitted to both DSD and Sace.
Paarl Post reached out to the accused teacher last week, but he decided not to comment on the allegations.
ALSO READ: Teacher resigns amid abuse probe at Simond Private School
