• Tweet

 20 cases pending in one district 

RELATED ARTICLES

• Teacher in court over pupil's rape
• 'Teacher assault' boy back at same school
• Teacher burns, cuts teens in ritual to expel demons
• Teacher barred from class over pupil's death
• Limpopo teacher held for killing wife
• Teacher in 'hot water'
• Ex-pupil sues teacher and state for R4m
• Teachers given IOU's instead of pay cheques
• Concern over mass exodus of teachers

But in all these cases teachers have been let off the hook due to a lack of evidence or, according to the KwaZulu-Natal department of education, because parents made deals with the alleged perpetrators to pay "damages" in the form of inhlawulo.

The victims are also often scared to testify against the alleged perpetrators because most schools have "cabals" of teachers, who act as prosecutors and interrogate the pupils in staff rooms to protect colleagues.

The Umlazi education district is the biggest in the province. According to a source, 20 cases have been laid against teachers. The source said the cases were just the tip of the iceberg.

He said the department of education had also noticed a trend in which former model C schools no longer reported sex-related cases.

The schools allegedly tell parents that they have "mechanisms to deal with such cases", the source said, adding that in some cases perpetrators negotiate with parents and urge them not to pursue the charges ... in exchange for inhlawulo.

"There is one case in the district in which a teacher impregnated a pupil, but paid ilobolo," the source said.

A parent, whose child was allegedly assaulted by a teacher, said yesterday that her child was victimised two times at school.

"She was sexually assaulted by a teacher, then other teachers interrogated her and threatened to kill her if she continued with the case," the mother said. "My daughter was moved to another school because it was unsafe for her."

The mother said her daughter was still traumatised by the incident.

"She received support from the district office and the Thuthuzela Care Centre at Mshiyeni Hospital. Though she seems to be coping, we want justice done," she said.

Yesterday provincial education official Sihle Mlotshwa confirmed that the youngest victim in the Umlazi district was six years old.

But Mlotshwa denied that the department was aware of the 20 cases.

"We know of about seven cases at Vukuzakhe, Mawelewele, Yellowwood Park and Zwelethu high schools, the Isidingo Primary School and at two other schools that I still have to confirm," Mlotshwa said.

He said the most recent alleged rape case was that of a six-year-old pupil at Isidingo Primary School.

(Education) MEC Senzo Mchunu is on record as having said that even if the alleged perpetrator pays ilobolo, it does not mean a thing - "sexual relations or romantic relations with learners are against the law". .

Linda Naidoo, director of Child Line, said the problem was alarming.

"We (Umlazi) have one of the highest number of cases. The problem is very huge. Some cases are also not reported because perpetrators manipulate victims."

• This article was first published in the printed newspaper and eEdition on 23 August 2012. Click on this link to view the eEdition

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Thu May 23 19:08:53 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 24, 2012

mopostolo

what is this? teachers ba totetswe? mara ka waka ngwana ba ka nyela!
Report Abuse

Aug 24, 2012

MyPot

where else can it happen....KZN hai! , so even the teachers are testing veginity with their tired ropes, shame poor gals
Report Abuse

Aug 24, 2012

violet

sis man!!
Report Abuse

Aug 24, 2012

2meZa07

This is disgusting. How can a parent in the form of a teacher do such a thing to his child. As for a Six year old!!!!! Sis man!!!!!!
Wrong as it is, other teachers threatens poor kids? Go diragalang Ma-Africa??????????
Report Abuse

Aug 24, 2012

RobinH

Surely prosecution does not depend on the parents!!!! WTF? WHere is the NPA?
Report Abuse

Aug 24, 2012

Charmaboi21

out of everything else we have to worry about as a parent, now the teachers in our schools cant be trusted too...God help us.
Report Abuse

Aug 24, 2012

WhiteImpCapMidAgeMaleChauvPig

Ok lets make a deal with them.
We'll cut their balls off only if they are not a female teacher.
Report Abuse

Aug 24, 2012

Alicia

Mess with me I cn handle it, bt with my child I will cut ur balls n fry them

Report Abuse

Aug 24, 2012

MommaC

* speechless*
!!!
Report Abuse

Aug 24, 2012

KatakataEmaotoAditshepe

Some zulu men are rotten,ba bodile.
Report Abuse

Read all 28 comments