We are schocked at a teacher who allegedly raped and showed porn to a learner
5 December 2012
The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) would like to express shock at newspaper reports of a teacher who allegedly showed porn to two learners and sexually assaulted one of them at a primary school in Pimville.
This report comes at a time when the country is spreading messages calling for the protection of women and children as part of the 16-days of activism against gender violence campaign which is observed world wide.
If the report is true, SADTU is utterly disgusted at such callous conduct. SADTU is vehemently opposed to the sexual harassment and abuse of learners by teachers.
This message is always spread in all our meetings with the latest being our World Aids Day celebration in Klerksdorp in the North West on December 1. Our leadership made a clear call to members not to abuse learners. They were also reminded of SADTUs and the South African Council for Educators (SACE) codes of conduct for educators which call on teachers to refrain from any form of sexual harassment (physical or otherwise of learners), any form of sexual relationship with learners at a school. The Code also calls for the use of appropriate language and behaviour in interactions with learners and for behavior which will elicit respect from the learners.
We welcome the fact that the teacher has been placed on precautionary suspension. We call for intense counseling of these learners, who if they are not appropriately attended to, will be scarred for life. Teachers are required to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the learners and not to pose a danger.
Issued by: SADTU Secretariat