Pretoria - The Gauteng Education Department has over the past five years spent more than R10.5 million on salaries for teachers placed on suspension for their alleged role in sexually violating learners.
This was revealed by Education MEC Matome Chiloane in his written reply to questions from Gauteng DA spokesperson on education Khume Ramulifho.
Ramulifho had asked Chiloane to give him details about the number of teachers facing sexual misconduct charges over the past five years and the amount paid to them while on precautionary suspension.
In his reply, Chiloane said 173 allegations of sexual misconduct were reported against teachers, and 29 of them were placed on precautionary suspension.
Chiloane said that, at the moment, only six teachers were serving precautionary suspension. He said the average number of days for precautionary suspension was 346, saying in the past five years, his department had forked out R10 595 744.89 to those implicated.
Asked about those still in the employ of the department, Chiloane said: “Eighty-six educators who have been accused of sexual misconduct are still teaching. Some were found not guilty and in other cases sanctions short of dismissal were pronounced.” He, however, said that 87 teachers were found guilty of sexual misconduct and dismissed.
Despite the guilty verdict, Chiloane was, however, unable to say how many of these teachers were facing any criminal charges, saying “the victims were encouraged to open criminal cases with the SAPS”.
According to Chiloane, the reporting was not the responsibility of Labour Relations and his department; the MEC said they did not keep records of cases that were reported to the police – a response which irked Ramulifho.
He said: “It is deeply concerning that the department does not keep records of cases that were reported to the police. The department states that the reporting is not the responsibility of Labour Relations, and the victims were encouraged to open criminal cases with the SAPS.
“This means that those found guilty were allowed to walk free without facing the might of the law, which is unacceptable and denies justice for the victims,” he said.
Ramulifho said his party was demanding that Chiloane must ensure that they speed up the investigation process for the teachers on precautionary suspension. He said the slower the probes, the more money the department would spend on suspensions.
“I will directly engage the MEC to ascertain why the department is not opening cases against teachers found guilty of sexual misconduct. We also demand that the department submit and register the names of teachers found guilty of sexual misconduct under the National Register for Sex Offenders. This will ensure that these teachers are banned from working with children.”
Pretoria News