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By Citizen Reporter

Journalist


Three Eastern Cape teachers suspended for alleged sexual misconduct

According to the department, one of the victims left the school and attempted suicide following the incident.


The Eastern Cape department of education has suspended three Alfred Nzo East education district teachers for alleged sexual misconduct.

This follows a report by The DispatchLIVE alleging that one of the pupils had shaved her head bald “to make herself unattractive” to one of the teachers who were allegedly making sexual advances towards her.

Another pupil reportedly complained that one of the accused teachers “grabbed her bottom on school premises and punished her for refusing to visit him him at his home”.

Suspensions

On Monday, the Eastern Cape department of education announced that the teachers had been suspended following a preliminary investigation conducted by the district.

The investigation, according to the department, confirmed some of the allegations against the teachers.

“Two of the teachers were served on 24 March this year while the third was served his letter this morning [Monday] because he was not available.”

ALSO READ: GDE spends R10m on teachers suspended for sexual misconduct – DA

It further said a team of psycho-social support had been activated and started counselling and debriefing these pupils last week as one of them [pupils] left school and attempted suicide.

“Both the provincial and district offices are monitoring the situation and providing necessary support to
avert any loss of life due to this incident.”

The investigation continues.

More teachers in the dock

In a separate matter in the Eastern Cape, a teacher was arrested late last year facing allegations of sexualy violating 21 pupils at Mdingi Senior Primary School outside Lusikisiki within the Ingquza Hill local municipality.

The 35-year-old teacher is facing 15 counts of sexual assault and nine counts of exposing children to pornography.

According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Eastern Cape spokesperson Luxolo Tyali, the incidents happened between November 2021 and October 2022.

It is reported that the teacher started by inappropriately touching boys on their private parts and thighs in class. 

His actions eventually progressed and he would lure unsuspecting pupils over to his rented apartment under the guise of helping them with homework or assisting him to rearrange his furniture.

His victims were between the ages of 13 and 17.

READ MORE: Eastern Cape teacher jailed for sexually assaulting 21 male pupils

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