Coding and Robotics will become a permanent fixture on the school calendar in 2023 – Photo: Adobe Stock
Coding and Robotics will become a permanent fixture on the school calendar in 2023 – Photo: Adobe Stock
It’s been confirmed that a school teacher in Ivory Park, Gauteng has handed himself over to the authorities on Thursday, after spending most of the last week on the run. The 38-year-old educator, accused of assaulting a Grade 10 pupil (aged just 16), will now appear in court later today.
Ivory Park teacher ‘now under arrest, set for court’
Gauteng police spokesperson Capt Mavela Masondo confirmed to SowetanLive that the senior staff member turned himself into police at Tembisa Station in the early hours of Thursday. The case has lead to widespread protests outside the school, with scores of people venting their frustrations towards the facility for their alleged negligence.
Once processed in court, the suspect can be named and more details about his crime can be reported on. Earlier this week, the Gauteng Department of Education confirmed that a case of rape had been opened with the police.
“The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) became aware of the alleged rape of a Grade 10 student by a teacher, when the matter was reported to the district last Friday. A case has been opened with the police, after the suspect went on the run. We’ve already begun disciplinary processes against the supposed perpetrator. We can never tolerate this.”
Harsh punishments expected… if found guilty
The educational body has also stated that the teacher will be subject to individual punishments handed down by the GBE, too. Under new laws, it’s possible that the accused educator can now be ‘suspended for life’ from his profession. In total, there are five acts that could get a member of school staff banned indefinitely from the industry:
- – Committing an act of sexual assault on a learner, student, or other employees.
- – Having a sexual relationship with a learner of the school.
- – Seriously assaulting, with the intention to cause grievous bodily harm to, a learner, student, or other employee.
- – Illegal possession of an intoxicating, illegal or stupefying substance.
- – Causing a learner to commit any of the above.
