The Western Cape Education Department says it is taking action against a teacher who sexually assaulted a learner.
The teacher is Ayanda Ntuthu of Thandokhulu High School in Mowbray.
According to investigative journalists from GroundUp, the incident happened on the school premises over five years ago, in March 2017.
Police reportedly couldn’t get witnesses to make statements, though, and the case stalled without any outcome.
But at some point, it was revived – and Ntuthu was found guilty in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court a month ago.
However, despite being convicted on two counts, he still remains in his post, and the learner is believed to still be at the school.
The province’s education authorities say the Department of Justice didn’t update them about the recent developments.
And that’s why they couldn’t proceed with internal processes to suspend the educator.
Ntuthu is expected to be sentenced on the 20th of June.
In the meantime, the WCED’s Bronagh Hammound says they need to carefully follow the letter of the law in suspending the teacher.
“The WCED can take steps to suspend the educator in light of the guilty verdict. Upon conviction, the educator will be then placed on the sexual offenders register – however, that is/could only happening post 20 June. The WCED therefore needs to act in terms of the Employment of Educators Act – in terms of suspension.”
