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South Africa’s Schools Face a Rising Crisis of Statutory Rape by Teachers
A growing and uncomfortable truth
South African classrooms are meant to be places of safety. Yet new figures from the Education Labour Relations Council have shaken both the public and the education sector. Between 2021 and 2026, one hundred and seventy-six teachers were found guilty of sexual misconduct involving pupils. The number is part of a larger pool of two hundred and eleven reported cases, with thirty-five teachers cleared after disciplinary processes.
The figures have landed heavily because they confirm something parents and activists have been warning about. Cases of statutory rape in schools are rising, and the country continues to confront the scale of the problem.
KwaZulu-Natal emerges as an area of concern
During a recent parliamentary committee meeting, officials revealed that KwaZulu-Natal has thirty statutory rape charges levelled against teachers. The revelation has intensified the ongoing conversation about pupil safety and accountability inside schools.
Experts say the system is failing pupils
Education specialist Hendrick Makaneta described the situation as a grave national concern. He urged law enforcement agencies to move faster on prosecutions and called on parents not to accept financial settlements from perpetrators.
Makaneta believes the education sector must invest in regular workshops for teachers and proper psychosocial support for every child who has survived abuse. Many activists echo this, saying schools often overlook the emotional aftermath for victims.
A national crisis that crosses provinces and school types
The National Association of School Governing Bodies issued its own warning that sexual abuse by teachers is no longer an isolated problem. General Secretary Matakanye Matakanye argued that the Department of Basic Education has the means to stop the crisis and must act with urgency.
The South African Democratic Teachers Union agrees that the numbers are worrying. Spokesperson Nomusa Cembi said the union trains members using strict codes of conduct and runs workshops on sexual offences legislation. She noted that Sadtu was the first union to sign a collective agreement requiring compulsory inquiries when teachers face sexual misconduct charges involving pupils. This, she says, ensures accountability rather than quiet resignations.
Why predators slip through the cracks
A growing theme in the national conversation is vetting. Brenda Madumise Pajibo of Wise4Afrika said the vetting of teachers remains inconsistent and urgently needs improvement. She stressed the need for a national register of sexual offenders that is actively maintained.
Her warning is clear. A lack of consequences allows misconduct to continue, and teachers found guilty must be removed from the system and added to the register once due processes are completed.
Vulnerable pupils are at greater risk
The National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA added another layer to the crisis. Its spokesperson, Lorvica Matthews, explained that while most schools remain safe, some environments have become hunting grounds for predators. Pupils in special needs schools, hostels, and ordinary public schools can be particularly vulnerable due to isolation and limited oversight.
Matthews criticised the current vetting system, where teachers must pay personally for police clearance. She said this delays screening and allows offenders to remain undetected. Vetting, she argued, should never be a one-off event because individuals change over time, and continuous checks are essential.
Government promises reforms but admits its weaknesses
Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube acknowledged that the system allows teachers charged with sexual misconduct to resign and reappear in another province. She confirmed that the department is strengthening reporting procedures and tightening rules that prevent the re-employment of offenders.
According to Gwarube, the true solution lies in ensuring cases lead to convictions. Schools must be sanctuaries, and accountability is central to making that possible.
A national moment of urgency
Shaheda Omar from the Teddy Bear Foundation described the situation plainly. Children should never fear the people tasked with teaching them. She believes South Africa must act decisively to protect every child.
Across the country, parents, unions, experts, and activists are calling for a united response. The rise in statutory rape cases is not only a crisis of discipline but also a crisis of trust. South Africa now faces the challenge of strengthening systems, improving oversight, and ensuring that every school becomes a safe place once again.
Also read: A Betrayal of Innocence: Cousin Gets Life for Raping 5-Year-Old Girl in eMpembeni
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Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: Vermont Public
