ActionSA Gauteng Youth Forum shocked by Employment of Sexual Offenders in Schools by GDE and Calls for Urgent Vetting Processes Reformation
Phiwokuhle Xulu
ActionSA Gauteng Youth Secretary
The Gauteng Youth Forum is outraged and deeply disturbed by the recent revelation that nine sexual offenders have been identified at Gauteng schools since January this year. This shocking discovery highlights the department’s gross failure to protect school learners from sexual predators and raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of the vetting process for teachers.
Of particular concern is that this revelation comes at a time of rising instances of Gender Based Violence and Femicide and, of course, 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. These devastating revelations remain a reminder of the need for urgent action to address the scourge of gender-based violence in our society.
ActionSA believes in a professional public service and the rule of law. Our societies must be kept safe from rapists and sexual offenders, most importantly the most vulnerable. There is no reason why schools would miss such an important detail unless the employment of the offenders was done due to nepotism or an inefficient system. The fact that these sexual offenders were employed in schools, despite the existence of a sexual offenders register, is a clear indication of the department’s negligence and failure to prioritize the safety and well-being of learners.
We demand that the Department of Education takes immediate action to develop a strategy for thoroughly vetting teachers and ensuring that sexual offenders are not employed in our schools. This strategy must be developed and be ready for implementation by the beginning of the 2025 Academic Year.
We also call on the government to demonstrate its commitment to fighting gender-based violence by ensuring that all necessary measures are taken to protect vulnerable individuals, particularly children, from sexual predators.
ActionSA Gauteng Youth Forum will continue to monitor the situation and demand accountability from the Department of Education to ensure that our schools are safe and secure for all learners.
ActionSA Gauteng Youth Forum shocked by Employment of Sexual Offenders in Schools by GDE and Calls for Urgent Vetting Processes Reformation
The Gauteng Youth Forum is outraged and deeply disturbed by the recent revelation that nine sexual offenders have been identified at Gauteng schools since January this year. This shocking discovery highlights the department’s gross failure to protect school learners from sexual predators and raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of the vetting process for teachers.
Of particular concern is that this revelation comes at a time of rising instances of Gender Based Violence and Femicide and, of course, 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. These devastating revelations remain a reminder of the need for urgent action to address the scourge of gender-based violence in our society.
ActionSA believes in a professional public service and the rule of law. Our societies must be kept safe from rapists and sexual offenders, most importantly the most vulnerable. There is no reason why schools would miss such an important detail unless the employment of the offenders was done due to nepotism or an inefficient system. The fact that these sexual offenders were employed in schools, despite the existence of a sexual offenders register, is a clear indication of the department’s negligence and failure to prioritize the safety and well-being of learners.
We demand that the Department of Education takes immediate action to develop a strategy for thoroughly vetting teachers and ensuring that sexual offenders are not employed in our schools. This strategy must be developed and be ready for implementation by the beginning of the 2025 Academic Year.
We also call on the government to demonstrate its commitment to fighting gender-based violence by ensuring that all necessary measures are taken to protect vulnerable individuals, particularly children, from sexual predators.
ActionSA Gauteng Youth Forum will continue to monitor the situation and demand accountability from the Department of Education to ensure that our schools are safe and secure for all learners.