Education MEC addresses assembly at Parktown Boys’ following allegations of sexual assault
PARKTOWN – During an assembly at Parktown Boys' High, Panyaza Lesufi said a protocol would be developed to outline how all allegations of sexual assault should be dealt with.
The Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi spoke at an assembly at Parktown Boys’ High on 23 May following allegations of sexual abuse by a former water polo coach at the school.
In November last year, the former water polo and assistant boarding master was arrested on charges of assault, sexual assault and sexual grooming of children. Another boarding master at the school came across CCTV footage which showed the man allegedly fondling a boy.
During the brief assembly, Lesufi addressed the boys and staff and said he had been in long talks with the leadership of the school and leadership of the district to ensure that incidents such as these would not reoccur.
He also said he had asked the psychosocial service unit to ‘formulate a proper protocol that needs to be followed by everyone in our schooling environment for when they report cases, when they need protection and above all when and how to report to a parent.’
During a media briefing, Lesufi emphasised that the man had resigned from his position at the school after charges were brought against him. “We are following the matter, as a department, to ensure that you [someone accused of sexually abusing schoolchildren] don’t resign from one institution to be hired at another institution,” said Lesufi.
READ Hertzberg writes about allegations of sexual assault at Parktown Boys’ High
He added that in two weeks time, there would be a meeting with all boys’ schools in the area as his department were aware that sometimes these acts spread to other institutions and they wanted to ensure that they were not only attending to one problem.
Lesufi said he had been given a report by the district and the management of the school and he was convinced that the situation was being managed appropriately.
The man accused of allegedly sexually assaulting boys at the school will appear in court on 11 July.
Talk to us by posting on our timeline, Rosebank Killarney Gazette or tweet us @RK_Gazette
