Maile orders urgent probe into sexual misconduct allegations at Soweto special school

Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile has ordered an urgent investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving educators and pupils at Curtis Nkondo School of Specialisation in Emdeni, Soweto.

Complaint referred to district office

The probe follows a sexual harassment complaint involving an educator that the school principal referred to the Johannesburg Central District Dispute Management Office on Friday, 7 August.

What was alleged

According to information formally submitted by the school, a Grade 11 pupil alleged an educator made an inappropriate sexual remark to her during the second term. The pupil provided a written account stating she later felt offended and hurt after understanding the meaning of the alleged remark.

A second pupil who said she was present during the interaction also submitted a statement that substantially supported the allegation. The educator has denied making inappropriate remarks and provided his own account of what happened during a subsequent engagement at the principal’s office.

Scope of the investigation

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) said it is aware of broader concerns raised by pupil formations and members of the school community about other educators allegedly being involved in separate incidents, but it stressed that the number of educators allegedly implicated has not been established.

The investigation will examine school and district records to determine whether complaints about inappropriate conduct were made as far back as 2022, who received them, how they were handled, and whether officials fulfilled their responsibilities.

The department said it would act against officials if evidence showed that a pupil safety complaint had been ignored, concealed, or discouraged from being reported.

Protecting pupils and the investigation

The GDE said it will determine whether precautionary measures are necessary against any implicated employees. It clarified that such measures would be intended to protect pupils and the investigation and would not constitute a finding of guilt.

The department expressed particular concern for pupils who may fear intimidation, retaliation, or not being believed when reporting sexual harassment. It urged that pupils who come forward be treated with dignity, sensitivity, and confidentiality and must not be victimised for reporting alleged wrongdoing.

Pupils, community and support

Departmental records show the school received psychosocial support in April after the death of a Grade 12 pupil. During that intervention, pupils raised concerns about feeling misunderstood or dismissed and said educators themselves needed support.

Official statements

“We are dealing with extremely serious allegations. Schools must be places of safety, learning, and development,”

“No educator or official has the right to use a position of authority to sexually harass, exploit, intimidate, or violate a pupil.”

“We will establish the facts and act decisively wherever wrongdoing is established.”

Maile also emphasised the duty of adults in schools:

“The first responsibility of adults in our schools is to protect children.”

The department has called on parents, pupils, teachers, pupil formations and others with relevant information to formally report it so that allegations can be documented and investigated. It also urged the public and media to protect the identities of affected pupils and avoid publishing information that could identify them.

“We will neither protect perpetrators nor prejudge allegations. Our responsibility is to protect pupils, establish the truth and ensure accountability,”