The DA and the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) have strongly condemned news of a Reiger Park high school principal allegedly having sex with learners in his office.
Videos to this effect have apparently been circulating on social media.
The Advertiser has established it is the principal of Reiger Park Secondary School who is at the centre of the sexual abuse claims, and that the community is staging a protest in the area today.
GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona said their psycho-social unit will visit the school today (January 29) to conduct the necessary intervention.
“The team will provide counselling to all affected learners and assist parents to interact with police accordingly. We appeal to learners, educators and parents to co-operate with all officials sent to the school for necessary intervention into this matter.”
The department, Mabona added, has a zero-tolerance stance on allegations of sexual assault and has never hesitated to act.
“We strongly condemn any acts of sexual misconduct in schools and encourage learners never to listen to anybody who tells them not to tell, for fear of victimisation.
“The department is ready to support all learners and parents and where such cases are reported to the department, the department will act in a manner to safeguard learners and to take action against any person at schools interfering with the rights of children and their parents,”
MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi, expressed his disappointment and disgust at the videos making the rounds involving the school principal in a compromising position with learners, in his office.
According to the GDE, this principal resigned in October, last year, and, as such, his last day was January 15.
“It must be noted that he is no longer in the employment of the department, however we will report him to the South African Council of Educators (SACE) to be struck of the roll with immediate effect,” said Mabona.
- Calls for a commission of inquiry
Khume Ramulifho MPL: DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education said for far too long the Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, and Lesufi have ignored the DA’s calls to establish a commission of inquiry to probe the extent of sexual abuse in Gauteng schools and to establish a toll-free line for learners to report sexual abuse in schools.
“It is an absolute disgrace that a principal who is supposed to be a true leader, a guardian and a shield to protect these learners from abuse within and outside the school premises is engaged in this type of behaviour,” said Ramulifho.
“We welcome this sex-pest principal’s immediate resignation from his post. However, he must not go unpunished for stripping these learners of their innocence and needs to face the full might of the law.
“This principal must be named and shamed for destroying the future and the dignity of our learners and should be be registered as a sexual offender. He must also be banned from ever working with children again.
“The DA called for a commission of inquiry last year after more than 87 learners were allegedly sexually abused by patrollers in Soweto schools.
“This problem is clearly far bigger than what we initially thought and requires greater intervention than the premier’s task team.
“There is no time line and no communication with regards to the findings of this task team and when its investigations will be completed.
“Sexual abuse in Gauteng schools goes beyond allegations against the patrollers as it also involves principals and educators. The scourge of violence against our learners has infiltrated every level of our education system.
“A commission of inquiry is the only way to deal with this pandemic.”
The DA also condemned those who are circulating the videos and pictures of the principal having sex with learners and said it violates the rights of these children.
“Possession of child pornography, as well as distributing it, is a criminal offence and charges should be laid against those who are breaking this law,” said Ramulifho.
He added that the DA will continue to put pressure on the premier and MEC to ensure that the commission of inquiry and a sexual abuse toll-free line is established as a matter of urgency.
“Our learners are the future leaders of this country and it is within their rights as guaranteed by the constitution to be protected against any sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and child pornography,” Ramulifho concluded.
Reactions on twitter regarding the sex scandal:
https://twitter.com/F_EazyDJ/status/957816639390670853
Reiger Park community says it's traumatised by #ReigerParkHigh sex videos that went viral. Community leaders say the department must arrange counselling for the whole community.
— Bra Hloni (@BraHlonisky) January 29, 2018
The sad thing about this #ReigerParkHigh saga is that most people knew this was going on & they did NOTHING! #ReigerPark
— Penny Mkalipe (@ThipenThwa) January 28, 2018
I bet Public school children ar surprised by the "surprise" over the #ReigerParkHigh. Let's be honest, this is more common in kasi and village schools it seems like part of the curricula. Im 33 and I can name over 15 girls frm MY primary years who did it with a teacher back then
— I Am (@BokangLehipi) January 28, 2018
There are people defending this principal and I'm just speechless. What if it was your child??? Your idol is a sex predator. Deal with it.#ReigerParkHigh
— Shanny🐾 (@candraxoxo) January 26, 2018
