By Thapelo Molefe
Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile has ordered an urgent investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving educators and learners at Curtis Nkondo School of Specialisation in Emdeni, Soweto.
The Gauteng Department of Education said the investigation would establish the number of formal complaints lodged against educators, the nature of the allegations, when they were reported, and what action was taken by school and district officials.
The move follows a complaint involving a Grade 11 learner who allegedly received an inappropriate sexual remark from an educator during the second term.
According to information formally submitted by the school, the principal referred the complaint to the Johannesburg Central District Dispute Management Office on Friday, and requested urgent intervention.
The learner provided a written account of the alleged interaction, while another learner who said she was present submitted a statement that substantially supported the allegation.
The educator has denied making inappropriate remarks and provided his own account of what happened during a subsequent engagement at the principal’s office.
The department said it was also investigating broader concerns raised by learner formations and members of the school community that other educators could be implicated in separate allegations involving learners.
However, it stressed that claims about the number of educators allegedly implicated had not been established as fact.
“We are dealing with extremely serious allegations. Schools must be places of safety, learning and development. No educator or official has the right to use a position of authority to sexually harass, exploit, intimidate or violate a learner,” Maile said.
“Equally, no person entrusted with a complaint from a learner has the right to sweep it under the carpet. We will establish the facts and act decisively wherever wrongdoing is established.”
The investigation will also examine claims that complaints involving inappropriate conduct may date back to 2022.
The department said it would examine school and district records to establish whether complaints were lodged during that period, who received them, how they were processed and whether officials acted in accordance with their responsibilities.
Maile has directed the department to establish whether other learners have raised similar allegations and whether these matters were previously brought to the attention of school management or departmental officials.
Where evidence shows that a complaint concerning a learner’s safety was reported and an official failed to act, attempted to conceal it, discouraged reporting or neglected their responsibility to protect learners, the department said appropriate action would be taken.
The department will also determine whether precautionary measures are required against any implicated employees while the investigation and applicable employment processes are underway.
It stressed that such measures, where warranted, would be intended to protect learners and the integrity of the investigation and would not amount to a finding of guilt.
The department said it was particularly concerned about the possibility that learners could fear intimidation, retaliation or not being believed when reporting sexual harassment or other misconduct.
“Every learner who comes forward must therefore be treated with dignity, sensitivity and confidentiality. No learner should be victimised for reporting alleged misconduct or assisting an investigation,” it said.
The department also pointed to previous psychosocial interventions at Curtis Nkondo School of Specialisation.
In April 2026, a departmental psychosocial team visited the school following the death of a Grade 12 learner. Learners received psychoeducation and opportunities to discuss their experiences.
During that intervention, learners reportedly expressed a need for educators to receive similar support and said they sometimes felt misunderstood or dismissed.
Maile said this highlighted the need for schools to create environments where learners can report concerns and expect adults to respond.
“We must build a culture in every school where a child can report something uncomfortable or inappropriate without fear. The first responsibility of adults in our schools is to protect children,” he said.
“We will listen to the learners, parents and learner formations, we will examine the records, and we will hold accountable anyone against whom wrongdoing is established through a fair process.”
The department called on parents, learners, learner formations, educators and others with relevant information to cooperate with the investigation and formally report additional allegations.
It also urged the public and media to protect the identities of affected learners and avoid publishing information that could directly or indirectly identify them.
“We will neither protect perpetrators nor prejudge allegations. Our responsibility is to protect learners, establish the truth, and ensure accountability. Every learner who enters a Gauteng school must know that their dignity, safety, and right to education are non-negotiable,” Maile said.
