Outrage in parliament over teacher-learner sex scandal

Members of Parliament have expressed outrage over the alarming number of teachers accused of having sexual relations with learners, following a report by the South African Council for Educators (SACE) that exposed widespread misconduct in schools.

The report, tabled before Parliament’s portfolio committee on basic education this week, revealed 606 cases of teacher misconduct in the 2024/2025 financial year, 127 of which involve sexual relations with learners.

SACE chief executive Ella Mokgalane said the council was deeply troubled by the persistence of such cases, which continue to erode trust in the teaching profession.

“We are worried because the number of reported cases keeps increasing. There are currently 606 in total, and of those, 127 involve teachers who continue to sleep with learners,” said Mokgalane.

“If these teachers are found guilty, they are removed from the roll.”

She added that investigations are being hampered by a lack of resources, with 379 cases from previous years, some dating back to 2022, still under investigation.

“In the 2024/2025 financial year, 36 teachers were removed from the roll,” she said.

Mokgalane’s report further highlighted 257 cases of corporal punishment, despite it being outlawed in 1996, and 26 cases of assault where teachers attacked colleagues.

‘No improvement’ in teacher behaviour

Committee chairperson Joy Maimela voiced frustration at the apparent lack of progress in curbing teacher misconduct.

She asked what measures were in place to ensure that teachers found guilty of sexual offences never work with children again.

Mokgalane responded that offenders are blacklisted and barred from working with learners.

“Those on the list include teachers who rape learners, impregnate them, or are found guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm,” she said.

Disturbing new cases under investigation

The presentation also revealed ongoing investigations into several disturbing incidents, including a rape case, a teacher accused of sleeping with a learner on school premises, teachers who court learners, and others involving teachers who impregnated learners.

Mokgalane said the council was also concerned about the resurgence of corporal punishment, warning that some educators still physically assault or verbally abuse learners despite the legal ban.

“We will launch a campaign on teacher conduct because we are worried about teachers who still physically punish or insult learners and colleagues,” she said.

She added that SACE was also investigating fraud cases involving teachers accused of defrauding schools.

Boys also victims

Deputy Minister of Basic Education Dr Reginah Mhaule reminded the committee that boy learners are also victims of sexual abuse in schools.

 “It is not only girl learners who are affected; we also have cases of boys being raped,” she said.

According to SACE data, the Western Cape recorded the highest number of reported cases, followed by Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal in third place. 

The report paints a grim picture of exploitation and abuse in South African schools, particularly in poorer communities where some teachers bribe families with groceries or financial support in exchange for silence.

In other cases, especially in the rural areas, teachers invoke cultural practices, offering to pay “damages” to victims’ families, a move cultural experts have condemned as a distortion of traditional practices used to mask statutory rape.

Anybody can lodge a complaint to SACE who suspects that a teacher has breached the Code of Professional Ethics. The complaints can be lodged anonymously.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE