Bloemfontein – The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) has condemned the actions of a tlof tlof loving Free State teacher who was recently dismissed after being found guilty of two counts of sexual misconduct. The union has vowed to uphold a zero-tolerance policy for any member found guilty of such offences.
The dismissal follows a ruling by the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) which found the teacher guilty of misconduct stemming from two separate incidents that occurred in 2023.
According to senior ELRC arbitrator Coen Havenga, the first incident involved a Grade 12 pupil, where the teacher allegedly touched her breast and forced her to 'play' with his very big penis.
The second incident involved a Grade 11 pupil, where the teacher allegedly exposed himself to the pupil and scared the poor girl with his bedroom anaconda. Both incidents took place on school premises, within the teacher's office.
"He forced her to touch his penis. The second incident involved a grade 11 pupil, wherein the accused teacher conducted himself in an improper, disgraceful, and unacceptable manner by showing his penis to the pupil," Havenga stated in his ruling.
The teacher vehemently denied the allegations, with his representative arguing that both pupils were fabricating evidence against him. However, Havenga dismissed this claim, stating that it was "highly improbable" that both pupils would collude in such a manner.
“It would have been an elaborate fabrication involving educators, young learners, and parents with the intent to get rid of the employee, which I find highly improbable," Havenga said.
"I find it improbable that the complainants would disadvantage themselves with a false version to satisfy another educator, and more improbable that parents would allow their young child to go through the trauma merely to satisfy the whims of another educator.”
As a result of the findings, Havenga dismissed the teacher from his position and deemed him unsuitable to work with children.
Sadtu's general secretary, Xolani Fakude, expressed the union's strong stance against such behaviour.
“These teachers damage the image of the profession which we are trying to work on," Fakude said.
"We don't want to be associated with those who are found guilty of sexual harassment or sexual relations because we believe that school-related gender-based violence has no place in our society and system.”
Fakude emphasised that Sadtu has no room for members who engage in such acts and will take immediate action to remove any member found guilty of sexual misconduct.
