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SIKHUNYANE – A 17-year-old Form II pupil has alleged that a female teacher sexually assaulted him, among allegations of inappropriate relationships involving four temporarily suspended teachers at Sikhunyane High School.
The teachers, three men and one woman, were temporarily removed from the school as a safety measure amid allegations that they were involved in romantic relationships with pupils. In an interview, Sikhunyane High School Committee Vice Chairperson Thulani Methula said the committee was informed of the allegations this year by the late Head teacher, Justice Makhanya. He said Makhanya informed the committee that two pupils had approached his office to report alleged romantic relationships with teachers. The head teacher then called an urgent meeting with the committee to brief its members. “We were only informed about two pupils who reported to the headteacher,” Methula said. He said a Ministry of Education and Training official later visited the school and held a meeting with the committee and teachers. During the meeting, the official informed the teachers of the allegations and warned them to stop any such conduct if they were involved, as the matter was being investigated. Methula said another alleged relationship involving a teacher and a pupil came to light a few months later. According to information gathered by the late head teacher, the pupil’s mother discovered romantic conversations between her child and the teacher on the child’s mobile phone.
He said the mother went to the school to report the matter and called for the law to take its course. Methula said the committee was shocked by the incidents and struggled to understand how they had occurred at the school. He added that while the school community was still grappling with the allegations, another pupil, a 17-year-old boy in Form II, came forward and alleged that he had been sexually assaulted by a female teacher.
“We were very shocked as to what was happening,” he said.
Methula said parents were informed about the allegations during meetings and expressed anger, calling for the teachers to be suspended. However, he said the ministry official advised that the necessary procedures had to be followed and urged the parents to be patient while investigations continued. He said all the alleged relationships were reported to have occurred this year. Meanwhile, Sikhunyane High School senior teacher Nonophile Fakudze said the incidents had traumatised the entire school community, including pupils.
“We all need psychological support,” she said. Fakudze described the situation as painful, but said the school could not comment further because the relevant authorities were handling the matter.
She said the school was doing everything possible to reassure and calm the pupils. She added that the incidents had occurred at a particularly difficult time, as pupils were writing their external examinations.
Fakudze said there had been no disturbances following the temporary removal of the teachers. However, the remaining staff had not yet taken over their duties because the teachers had been removed early this week.
She said the school was also without a head teacher and was awaiting guidance from the Regional Education Officer’s office, which was among the stakeholders handling the matter.
When sought for comment, Hhohho Regional Education Officer Dr Nkosinathi Nkambule said they were still determining who would take over the duties of the temporarily removed teachers.
He said he had met the school’s manager yesterday to discuss the matter. Nkambule confirmed that the teachers had been temporarily removed for their safety because parents were angry. He said it was also necessary to protect the accused teachers while investigations continued.