Education Department implements court order

The Gauteng Department of Education has implemented the order granted by the High Court in Johannesburg on 20 September 2006.  This followed an application brought by the South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) on behalf of a pupil who was allegedly sexually assaulted by her class teacher at the school on 08 August 2006.

The court had ordered the three respondents (The school, the National and Provincial Departments) to:

Ø       Investigate the alleged misconduct;

Ø       Bring a charge of misconduct if there is sufficient evidence to support the charge; and

Ø      Consider suspending the educator pending the abovementioned investigation.

When the National Department heard about the court order and the incident they expressed shock at how the matter had been handled by the Provincial Department.  The Department committed to ensuring that this matter was thoroughly investigated.  The Provincial office has subsequently confirmed that the educator was temporarily suspended when the school term began on 02 October 2006 and that the matter is being investigated. The outcome of the investigation will be committed to the Commission in due course.

The Commission is pleased at how the Department has handled this matter and hopes that in future matters of this nature would be dealt with expeditiously.

Jennifer Joni

South African Human Rights Commission

Contact details

Lorraine Molepo

Media and Communications Unit

Tel:  (011) 484 8300 x 2092

Fax:  (011) 643 6472