IFP calls for urgent intervention to address scourge of schoolyard paedophiles

THE IFP in the KZN Legislature has called on law enforcement authorities and the criminal justice system to act tough on teachers committing serious crimes.

Party spokesperson on education, Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa, said ‘sentences harsher than life imprisonment should be imposed on those teachers found to be committing crimes a such as murder and rape’.

She was reacting to the news of an arrest of a 33-year-old teacher who allegedly raped a 10-year-old boy in Mondlo, near Vryheid.

She said parents and guardians send their children to school with the expected assurance that they are in a safe, protective environment with teachers they trust.

‘It is a pity that today there is no greater threat to children than paedophiles who are supposed to be children’s keepers.

‘This country has gone over the edge and we are now in a free fall, and the justice system appears to have failed to protect our children against this scourge.

‘Every day somewhere in our country a learner is being sexually molested or touched inappropriately by a trusted teacher in our school system.

‘Learner sexual abuse is a plague that seems to be growing. While this is not only a problem in education, we are particularly concerned about school employees because of the trust the society places in them to care for our children.

‘Our schools are no place for paedophiles, harassers and sexual predators,’ Madlopha-Mthethwa said, adding that her party has been approached by many South Africans who are calling for the reinstatement of capital punishment.

‘We feel that government should at the very least open this matter up for national discourse in a process akin to the recent Constitutional Review Committee process on expropriation of land.

‘Let’s talk about the death penalty, let’s talk about such teachers.

‘Strong action is needed to end the rape and murder scourge,’ she said.

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