Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
5 October 2023 | 15:27 CAT
1-min read

The South African Council for Educators (SACE) removed 36 teachers from the roll due to serious misconduct. In an interview on Radio Islam International, Zeenat Sujee an attorney at Section27 discussed the rise in cases of teacher misconduct and the measures being taken to address this issue.

Between April 2022 and March 2023, 36 teachers were removed from their roles by SACE, marking an increase from the 19 cases reported during the preceding financial year.

One aspect of these findings is that 18 of the 36 teachers were removed from their positions for rape or sexual misconduct.

The interview revealed that when SACE strikes off a teacher, it effectively means they can never teach again. Sujee noted that SACE hands penalties down based on the severity of the misconduct. However, there are cases where SACE imposes a suspension rather than a permanent removal, depending on the seriousness of the educator’s misconduct.

Sujee clarified that these decisions are final and not subject to further appeal within the SACE process. Educators who wish to challenge these decisions must take their cases to court for review.

Corporal punishment remains a persistent issue in South African schools. Despite efforts by SACE to educate educators on alternative disciplinary methods, more than 200 cases of corporal punishment were reported in a single year. This suggests that some teachers continue to resort to physical punishment, even though it has been outlawed for over 25 years.

The reasons behind this persistence in corporal punishment are multifaceted. Sujee pointed out that schools often reflect the broader issues in society, including high rates of violence and sexual violence. Overcrowded classrooms, frustration, and a lack of training in alternative discipline methods may also contribute to this problem.

Section27 has been actively involved in advocating for stricter sanctions against educators who employ corporal punishment. In a recent legal battle, they succeeded in convincing the High Court that SACE should revise its mandatory sanctions. While the court ruled in their favour on this matter, it did not grant a re-hearing for their clients. As a result, the case is now under appeal in the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Listen to the full interview on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat: