Johannesburg - A primary school teacher will be suspended for allegedly showing pupils a pornographic movie, the Gauteng education department said.
“We are extremely concerned about these allegations. The safety of children is priority for us. We will put the teacher on a precautionary suspension and institute an independent investigation into this matter,” said spokeswoman Phumla Sekhonyane.
She said the department would also ensure that the school co-operates with the police investigation.
“We are also providing counselling to the learner,” Sekhonyane said.
Gauteng police said a case of child pornography has been opened against a primary school teacher in Germiston.
“Yes, we opened the case and transferred it to the Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for investigation,” said Warrant Officer Andre de Jager.
The case was opened on Thursday by a pupil's mother.
The Sowetan on Monday reported that a female teacher allegedly made pupils watch a pornographic movie on her laptop at the school.
A 10-year-old girl told her mother and she opened a case. The girl told her mother the teacher had taken three other children to the school's storeroom to watch the movie.
“She told me that the teacher asked them if they knew what porn was and played the movie...” said the mother, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her child.
“My daughter drew a picture of a naked guy standing and what looked like a woman putting his penis in her mouth.”
Sapa