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The Select Committee on Education, Sciences and the Creative Industries has learnt with shock of the passing of an Eastern Cape learner in the OR Tambo (Umthatha) region following an alleged rape by an educator.

The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Makhi Feni, said although this information is still unverified, the pervasive culture of learner–educator sexual relations is something that the Department of Basic Education (DBE), nationally and provincially, must deal with decisively.

“The committee will forever condemn these incidents and this behaviour from educators, because it eats from the moral fabric of our society. These are people tasked with looking after our children for the most significant part of the day, yet they find it appropriate that they sleep with learners.”

Mr Feni also called for consequences, including convictions, for these acts of sexual assault. “The culture is so pervasive that beyond making noise on social media, nothing is ever done. We are learning everyday of underage girls’ pregnancies, yet not one example is made of the perpetrators. Perhaps it is high time the committees of Parliament insist that the DBE reports on these incidents and, importantly, on who had been taken to court.”

A learner at the Nozuko Senior Secondary School in Umthatha reportedly committed suicide following an alleged rape incident by an educator at the school. Learners from the school marched to the district education offices on Monday following news of the incident.
 
The committee sends its heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased, as well as the family’s friends and school community.

“Rape is not normal in any society. These are condemnable and objectionable acts by the educator. And we call on all the responsible authorities to act accordingly to ensure that beasts do not roam among our children. We are saying to them: rid our schools of rape perpetrators, schools should be safe spaces for learning.

“Clearly criminal conduct had occurred and, according to the legislative prescripts in our country, that should be acted upon. People cannot feast on our children without any consequences,” concluded Mr Feni.

Issued by the Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Science and Creative Industries, Makhi Feni