Teacher suspended for raping student

Photo for illustrative purposes. (iStock)

The Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Education had suspended the teacher at Ludidi High School in Matatiele as a precautionary measure after he was accused of sexually abusing a Grade 12 student.

According to Ministry of Education spokesperson Mali Mtima, the preliminary report states that the incident occurred during school hours after the alleged perpetrator and the victim dropped off a sick student at a local clinic.

He said the victim opened a case with the local South African Police Service (SAPS), which in turn informed the school and subsequently the school management, who were to report these allegations of sexual abuse to the School Governing Body (SGB).

“In addition, on the same day of the incident, the police took the victim to a local Thuthuzela Care Centre in Matatiele to receive the necessary medical attention. The alleged perpetrator has since been detained by the police and investigations are ongoing.

When the department came to know about this, it dispatched a team comprising the Circuit Manager, an educational psychologist and a social worker to the school to provide assistance to the victim and to initiate an investigation into the matter,” Mtima said.

He added that as part of this internal investigation, the team held a meeting with the concerned student and her parents on June 3, 2024 to record the statement of the said student.

Mtima added that the precautionary suspension of the alleged offender while the investigation is ongoing is to serve the student’s right to education. In addition, the department has provided psychosocial support to intervene and assist the student and the affected classmates.

He confirmed that the Alfred West School District is in the process of hiring a substitute teacher to take over the duties of the suspended teacher to ensure that classes are not disrupted by the ordeal.

Fundile Gade, MEC of the Ministry of Education, warned all educators against abusing students they are supposed to protect and nurture.

“Our Department of Industrial Relations and Human Resources Development has been dispatched to investigate these allegations and initiate the necessary disciplinary proceedings against all alleged educators. Educators have a responsibility to care for these young people. Actions of this kind not only destroy the mutual trust that parents and children have in teachers, but rather betray that trust,” Gade said.

He added that they all see their schools as a safe base for the education of responsible citizens. Incidents such as this are contrary to this purpose and must be dealt with with the necessary severity.

According to him, the district office recommended that the school develop a support program for the affected 12th grade.

“The students were also called together for a debriefing so that they can continue with their mid-term exams while the authorities deal with the case.”