By Levy Masiteng
The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has expressed deep concern over the alarming number of statutory rape cases in South African schools, revealing that only 42,650 of the country’s 405,000 educators have been vetted.
This shocking figure emerged during a parliamentary enquiry on Wednesday aimed at addressing the prevalence of sexual offences in schools and identifying measures to prevent such incidents.
The committee called for the urgent acceleration and expansion of the vetting process to include all school staff, not only teachers.
The enquiry heard submissions from the Department of Basic Education, provincial departments, teachers’ unions, legal advocacy groups, and learner representative organisations.
Committee chairperson Joy Maimela said the proceedings exposed several disturbing cases, including that of a school principal in the Eastern Cape who was accused of sexual misconduct, resigned before the case was finalised, and was rehired at another school a year later.
“The South African Council for Educators (SACE) had no records of the case because authorities never reported it. This meant the accused kept his SACE certificate and was rehired as an educator,” Maimela said.
She criticised the Eastern Cape Department of Education for its failure to explain the re-employment, adding:
“The Eastern Cape cannot evade this matter. We want answers on why the case was not reported to SACE and how the perpetrator was rehired.”
The incident, Maimela said, raised serious questions about the effectiveness of vetting mechanisms and the ability of education authorities to protect learners.
“The problem is multifaceted,” she added. “It cuts across social, economic, and cultural lines — reflecting deep-rooted structural inequalities and moral failures in our society.”
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube acknowledged systemic weaknesses.
“This is a complex issue. One of the biggest challenges is ensuring reports lead to convictions. The key to ridding our schools of sexual offenders is having them in jail,” said Gwarube.
Learner representatives told the committee that many teachers lack the training and knowledge to handle statutory rape cases or to report such incidents properly.
“Teachers do not have the skills to deal with statutory rape in schools, and some do not even know how to report these offences,” one representative said.
The committee also heard that underreporting by principals and families remains widespread, driven by cultural silence and fear of victimisation.
“We have noted with concern that, while policies mandate reporting, compliance remains inconsistent across provinces and districts,” Maimela said.
The committee recommended legislative amendments to make it compulsory for parents to report statutory rape, alongside comprehensive education on the age of consent and reporting obligations.
Maimela concluded that the committee will probe legislative gaps and scrutinise departmental awareness campaigns, adding:
“This confusion leads to under-reporting, delays, and the continued victimisation of children. The challenge is not the absence of law, but the failure of implementation — and the gap between policy and practice remains wide.”
INSIDE EDUCATION
