- A teacher at Busisiwe Primary School in Soweto handed himself over to police after being accused of violating a nine-year-old Grade 4 learner
- Angry parents gathered outside the school demanding answers after a video of the child recounting the alleged incident circulated on social media
- The Gauteng Department of Education confirmed the teacher was placed on precautionary suspension as investigations got underway
Source: Getty Images
GAUTENG — A teacher at Busisiwe Primary School in Soweto has surrendered to authorities after being accused of violating a nine-year-old Grade 4 learner. He is expected to appear before the Protea Magistrate's Court in connection with the allegations.
The matter came to public attention after a video in which the child recounts the alleged assault began circulating on social media earlier this week, triggering protests by parents outside the school.
Parents demand action at Busisiwe Primary
Furious parents gathered at the school demanding explanations from management and calling for the accused educator to be removed from the premises. Parent Phumzile Gumede criticised the school for what she described as a failure to act promptly once the incident was reported internally. Gumede said meaningful steps only appeared to follow after the video gained traction online, and she expressed concern that the teacher had initially been permitted to return home rather than being taken into custody immediately.
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GDE places teacher on suspension
The Gauteng Department of Education visited Busisiwe Primary School on Wednesday in response to the public outcry. The department confirmed the teacher had been placed on precautionary suspension pending the outcome of the investigation.
Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile said the learner and her mother were receiving counselling and that forensic processes were underway to gather the necessary statements. Maile noted that police had been waiting for the complainant to furnish the required information before proceeding with the arrest, which explains the delay in taking the teacher into custody.
The teacher's decision to hand himself over marks a significant step forward in the case, which has raised serious concerns about learner safety and the manner in which schools handle allegations of sexual abuse by staff members.
The allegations have not yet been tested in court. The accused teacher is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Teacher jailed for assault of 13 year old girl
Previously, Briefly News reported that a teacher with a nefarious agenda received the maximum sentence the Tembisa Magistrate's Court could impose for violating a Grade 7 learner. Bethuel Lesetja Makgetha was convicted for assaulting a 13-year-old Eastrand pupil multiple times in October 2019 and sentenced to five life terms. The court passed the 50-year-old's sentence on Friday, 6 September 2024.
Source: Briefly News
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