By Charmaine Ndlela
A Mpumalanga school principal has been dismissed after being found guilty of engaging in a sexual relationship with a learner.
Godfrey Mhaleni, principal of Magwagwaza Secondary School in Bushbuckridge, was removed following an arbitration process by the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC).
The process, concluded on March 24, found he had an inappropriate relationship with a Grade 11 pupil. The learner’s testimony, in which she confirmed the relationship, was central to the guilty finding.
Mhaleni had been placed on precautionary suspension after the allegations surfaced, with the department following formal disciplinary procedures.
The Mpumalanga Department of Education said the conduct constituted a serious breach of professional ethics and the law.
Under the Employment of Educators Act (Act 76 of 1998), dismissal is mandatory for educators found guilty of serious misconduct. Section 17 prohibits sexual relationships with learners, sexual assault and any form of coercion or encouragement of sexual activity involving learners. Section 18 provides for disciplinary action in cases of sexual harassment.
Department spokesperson Gerald Sambo said the department does not tolerate conduct that undermines pupils’ safety and development.
“This conduct represents a profound breach of trust and undermines the integrity of the teaching profession,” the department said, adding that action would be taken against offenders.
The department said it would continue efforts to ensure safe and supportive learning environments.
The case reflects a broader trend of sexual misconduct by educators. In recent years, several teachers and principals have been dismissed or arrested for similar offences, often involving abuse of authority.
In a separate case, a former primary school principal in Stellenbosch was arrested on December 19, 2025, on a charge of sexual assault. The 55-year-old appeared in the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court on March 3, 2026, and is expected back in court on May 13.
Between 2021 and 2025, 176 teachers were found guilty of sexual misconduct involving learners. Of 211 reported cases, 35 resulted in acquittals.
Police statistics show 80 rapes were recorded at educational institutions between January and March 2025, with 54 victims identified as learners.
Nationally, 13,452 sexual offences were reported during the same period.
INSIDE EDUCATION
