Johannesburg - The DA in Gauteng has called on provincial education MEC Panyaza Lesufi to address sexual assault cases at schools and ensure departmental officials act on educators found guilty violating pupils.
According to the DA, in his reply to questions posed to him in the Provincial Legislature recently, Lesufi revealed that up to 14 school teachers have been reported for sexual assault.
It said out of the 14, only three have been found guilty of sexual assault and/or indecent behaviour.
The party went further point out that Lesufi maintains that eleven school teachers are still serving in their posts whilst waiting for their disciplinary outcome no punishment has been imposed on the three teachers found guilty.
"The Gauteng Education Department has not taken strong action nor expedited the process of disciplinary hearings for sexual assault offences. The DA is of the view that cases of such nature should be swiftly resolved and be addressed with seriousness. We cannot have alleged perpetrators remain in the system due to lack of prioritization of sexual assault cases," DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education Khume Ramulifho said in a statement.
Ramulifho added allegations of sexual assault or indecent behaviour had to be handled with caution as learners could not be subjected to secondary victimisation by the accused teachers.
He called on the department to protect learners and ensure learning and teaching take place in a conducive environment.