A MATHS and physical science teacher at a secondary school in Bloemfontein, Free State was dismissed and declared unfit to work with children following his sexual misconduct to a grade 8 pupil.
The Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) discovered that the teacher had instructed the pupil to kiss him in an empty classroom when she was coming back from the toilet.
The teacher was found guilty of contravening the Educators' Employment Act.
According to Free State education department spokesman Howard Ndaba, the incident occurred on 11 October 2022.
Ndaba said the department condemned any form of sexual misconduct to the pupils under any circumstances.
"We have been told that a learner was on her way from the bathroom when she met the teacher. The teacher had allegedly instructed her to the classroom and forced her to kiss him. He knows very well that being in love with a learner or touching her inappropriately is unacceptable," he said.
Ndaba said the department wouldn't hesitate to fire anyone found guilty of abusing pupils.
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The teacher, Lawrance Letolo, allegedly apologised to the pupil but denied that he instructed her to kiss him.
A spokesman for the South African Council for Educators (SACE), Risuna Nkuna, said the matter was only brought to the attention of the council on Friday, 26 May, through the education labour relations council and registered with SACE on Monday, 29 May.
"We are still to begin our disciplinary processes," he said
The National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB) called on the Department of Basic Education to tighten the requirements for hiring teachers to avoid employing criminals.
National secretary Matakanye Matakanye said proper verifications and investigations must be part of the process when a school hires a teacher.
"The department must be extra conscious when employing a teacher. We must involve community members where a particular teacher grew up. We don't have to risk our children's lives by hiring a criminal or violent person. A teacher must be a parent," he said.
