Gauteng education cuts ties with Nali’Bali after sexual assault incident

An alleged sexual assault by a Nali’Bali practitioner on a Grade 3 pupil at Braamfischerville Primary School has prompted the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) to immediately terminate its partnership with the campaign.

The perpetrator, who isn’t a GDE employee, allegedly sexually assaulted the pupil on 24 March, and the matter was reported to the school by the child’s parent on 25 March.

GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona said upon learning of the allegation, the Braamfischerville Primary School principal advised the parent to lay a criminal case.

Nali’Bali practitioner suspended

The practitioner was suspended by the national reading-for-enjoyment campaign and subsequently arrested on 28 March. His bail hearing is scheduled for 14 April 2025.

“Indeed, this is an exceedingly disturbing incident. Our children must never experience such cruelty by some adults who are supposed to assist to develop and take care of them,” said Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane.

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Mabona said a joint meeting was held to notify the School Governing Body (SGB) of the developments, and a parent engagement session is scheduled for Saturday, 12 April. The session is to provide further clarity and reassure the school community about the safety of their children.

The GDE partnered with Nali’Bali to help South African children reach their full potential via reading and storytelling, particularly in foundation phase learning when Early Childhood Development (ECD) was transferred to the Department of Basic Education.

The department said it is still working to address the larger problem of sexual misbehaviour in schools at the time of this incident.

42 cases of sexual misconduct

The department has been conducting a vetting on all existing school-based employees and newly appointed employees.

According to the GDE’s records, the department has received reports of 42 cases of sexual misconduct.

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About 19 cases have been finalised, which resulted in about 11 employees being dismissed, four employees being found not guilty, two cases being withdrawn against the employees due to insufficient evidence and one employee resigning while another employee retired from public service.

23 pending cases

The department has 23 cases pending finalisation, of which about 15 are at various stages of disciplinary hearings, and eight cases are still under investigation.

The individuals implicated have either been placed on precautionary suspension or were transferred to the district offices pending the outcome of investigations.

“We remain committed to creating a safe and secure environment for all learners. We will continue to work with law enforcement agencies and relevant partners to ensure that incidents of this nature are dealt with swiftly, transparently, and justly,” Chiloane said.