New court order targets teachers who prey on children

By Palesa Matlala

• Education departments have until 31 March 2027 to check all school employees against the National Child Protection Register and remove anyone banned from working with children.

• More than 800 sexual misconduct complaints have been investigated against educators, while about 300 teachers have been found guilty of sexual offences.

Schools across South Africa are being ordered to tighten checks on teachers and staff after a court ruled that stronger action is needed to protect children from sexual predators.

The Gauteng High Court has ordered the Department of Basic Education and all provincial education departments to strengthen the National Child Protection Register after concerns that dangerous people were slipping through the cracks.

The order follows a court case brought by the Teddy Bear Foundation, represented by SECTION27.

The organisations argued that serious failures in the system allowed some people who had been found guilty of sexual misconduct, or declared unfit to work with children, to avoid proper checks and continue working around learners.

The National Child Protection Register is designed to identify people who are not allowed to work with children.

Anyone listed on Part B of the register is legally regarded as unsuitable to work with children and should not be employed in schools or any other environment where they have contact with young people.

Under the court order, all current education employees must be screened against the register by 31 March 2027.

Education departments must also submit progress reports every three months to show how the work is progressing.

The court also ordered that no person listed on the register may be appointed or kept in any job that brings them into contact with children.

In future, every new appointment in schools must include a compulsory check against the register before a person can be employed.

The Department of Basic Education will also work with the Department of Social Development to improve the register and make sure information is updated correctly.

The move comes as concerns continue to grow over sexual abuse involving educators.

Figures show that about 300 teachers across South Africa have been found guilty of sexual violence by labour and education bodies.

The South African Council for Educators has also dealt with 826 complaints of sexual misconduct involving teachers.

In Gauteng alone, 16 formal cases involving educators accused of abusing learners were referred through official disciplinary processes, making it one of the provinces with the highest number of reported cases.

The National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa welcomed the court order.

The union said schools must remain safe places where children can learn without fear of abuse, intimidation or exploitation.

“Anyone found guilty of sexual misconduct or declared unsuitable to work with children should be placed on the National Child Protection Register without delay,” the union said.

“Such individuals should never again be allowed to work where they have access to learners.”

The union also praised the Teddy Bear Foundation, SECTION27, the Department of Basic Education and provincial education departments for reaching the agreement.

It called on all parties to make sure the court order is fully implemented so that children are better protected in every school across the country.

Pictured above: Gavel

Image source: File.