The Democratic Alliance (DA) has issued a scathing condemnation of the Gauteng Department of Education after it was revealed that ten convicted sex offenders are still teaching in public schools across the province. The party is demanding urgent action, including the immediate dismissal of these individuals, and is calling for the tightening of laws around the vetting of educational staff against sexual offender registries.
The revelations have reignited national debate about learner safety, institutional accountability, and the need for transparent, enforceable safeguarding measures in schools.
The Shocking Discovery
The DA obtained the information through a parliamentary response, which confirmed that ten individuals with convictions related to sexual offences continue to be employed as teachers in Gauteng. Shockingly, six of these educators have only been referred for disciplinary hearings, while four have not faced any internal action whatsoever.
Khume Ramulifho, DA Gauteng spokesperson for education, said:
“The ANC-led government continues to allow these individuals to have access to children despite their criminal records. This is a betrayal of our children’s rights and a gross violation of public trust.”
The party is not only demanding that these educators be fired without delay, but is also calling on the Department of Education to disclose the names of the offenders and the schools where they are employed — something the department has thus far declined to do, citing legal constraints.
Legislative Gaps and a Broken Vetting System
This deeply troubling situation has highlighted critical failures in how South Africa vets individuals who work with minors. Currently, there is no legal requirement for automatic background checks of education personnel against the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) — a glaring oversight that experts argue leaves learners vulnerable to exploitation and harm.
Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube acknowledged the shortfall, saying:
“There are gaps in the law which currently prevent us from automatically vetting all school staff. That must change. We owe it to our children to make schools safe spaces.”
Gwarube has committed to working closely with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to introduce legislative amendments that would mandate vetting of anyone employed in schools — teaching or otherwise — against the NRSO and the National Child Protection Register.
What is the NRSO, and Why Is It Not Working?
The National Register for Sex Offenders was established to prevent individuals convicted of sexual crimes from working with vulnerable populations, particularly children, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.
However, the system is plagued with several issues:
- It is not publicly accessible, which limits community awareness and scrutiny.
- Vetting is not mandatory for all employers in the education sector.
- Employers often rely on criminal record checks, which may not reflect cases where an offender has not been sentenced to jail or where the offence occurred many years ago.
This has created a loophole where convicted sex offenders can continue working in schools, especially if oversight is poor or disciplinary procedures are delayed — as is evident in the Gauteng case.
Community and Parent Reactions
The news has left many parents and community leaders angry and alarmed. Learner safety has become a central issue at recent school governing body meetings and ward forums, where parents are demanding transparency and accountability.
At a recent community meeting in Soweto, one parent remarked, “This is not just a failure of government; it’s a failure of the system that’s meant to protect our children. We need names, and we need action.”
Teachers’ unions have also expressed concern. While acknowledging the importance of due process, several unions have called for stricter vetting mechanisms to protect the integrity of the profession and restore trust among the public.
DA’s Recommendations
The DA has laid out a set of proposals it believes can restore safety and accountability to schools:
- Immediate dismissal of the 10 convicted offenders.
- Public disclosure of their identities and the schools involved.
- Mandatory vetting of all school employees — including cleaners, administrative staff, and transport providers — against the NRSO and Child Protection Register.
- Annual renewal of clearance certificates for all employees in schools.
- Amendments to existing legislation to enforce automatic vetting during hiring and throughout employment.
- Creation of a public-facing system for communities to verify whether individuals are legally allowed to work with children.
Ramulifho added that learner safety must be prioritised over bureaucratic delays:
“If the government fails to act, it is complicit in any future harm that may come to our learners.”
Broader Context: Sex Offences in SA Schools
This isn’t an isolated issue. The South African Council for Educators (SACE) received over 190 complaints of sexual misconduct against teachers between 2022 and 2023. Of those, more than 30 educators were found guilty and removed from the profession, yet some later resurfaced in other provinces due to poor interdepartmental communication and lack of a national tracking system.
In a December 2023 interview, Thilivhali Livhadi, spokesperson for youth organisation LoveLife, stressed the importance of ensuring that no convicted sex offender is ever allowed near a classroom again.
“Dismissal is only part of the solution. Registration on the National Child Protection Register is essential to ensure these individuals do not reappear in different schools or provinces.”
ALSO READ: Over 100 School Sexual Misconduct Cases Under Investigation, GBV Groups Demand Urgent Action
What Needs to Happen Next?
The outrage triggered by this revelation offers an opportunity for both provincial and national authorities to reform how safeguarding is approached in the education system. Some of the most urgent priorities include:
- Updating laws to ensure automatic vetting and real-time data sharing.
- Developing a centralised digital database accessible to education departments across provinces.
- Improving disciplinary processes so that allegations are acted upon swiftly and fairly.
- Empowering school governing bodies (SGBs) with training and tools to question appointments and initiate background checks independently.
Time for Action, Not Promises
The fact that ten convicted sex offenders remain employed in Gauteng’s schools is more than an administrative failure — it’s a direct threat to the safety and well-being of children. While government leaders have acknowledged the legislative shortcomings, the need for urgent, decisive action cannot be overstated.
The public deserves transparency, learners deserve protection, and offenders must face the consequences — not enjoy loopholes. With the DA, parents, teachers, and civil society now pushing back harder than ever, this may be a turning point for how learner safety is handled in South Africa’s schools.
