More than 300 pupils have been abused by teachers in KwaZulu-Natal, the province’s premier Dr Zweli Mkhize said on Thursday.
“Concern has arisen about the rising abuse of learners wherein 382 children were abused by the educators,” Mkhize said in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature.
He said that 229 of the perpetrators had been reported by schools.
The provincial government was also concerned about substance abuse, teenage pregnancies and violence in schools.
“We believe that all these problems will require collaborative work with communities to eradicate.”
Mkhize also reported that the number of no fee schools had risen from 57 percent in 2006 to 76 percent.
On a positive note, he said the province’s agrarian revolution was beginning to bring about handsome dividends.
“Agriculture continues to offer opportunities that must be taken advantage of. Last year apart from the one home one garden approach, 200 tractors were distributed, resulting in 10 000 hectares of land being cultivated,” he said.
Mkhize said 100 tractors had been bought and that 20 000 hectares would be ploughed.
“More focus is needed both on crop and livestock production to elevate subsistence farming to a level where large volumes are capable of sustaining market demands.” – Sapa