Media Statement
To All Media Houses
20 May 2025

For Immediate Release
Edgar Legoale Foundation Welcomes Dismissal of Teacher for Sexual Assault and Harassment

The Edgar Legoale Foundation welcomes the decision by the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) to dismiss a teacher from Makabelane Technical School in Phuthaditjhaba, Free State for sexual assault and harassment involving three learners. This decision is a big step towards keeping our learners safe and making sure schools are places where they can learn and grow without fear.

The teacher was found guilty of eight allegations of sexual misconduct. The abuse happened between 2023 and 2024 and involved two learners who were minors, aged 14 and 16, and another learner who was 18 at the time. The ELRC also ruled that the teacher is not fit to work with children under Section 120(4) of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005. We thank the Free State Department of Education, its Labour Relations officials, and the ELRC for their hard work in investigating this case and making sure justice was done. We also salute the bravery of the learners who reported the abuse and promise them our full support.

But this case shows there is a bigger problem in our schools that we cannot ignore. According to the ELRC, 12 cases of sexual harassment and abuse of learners by teachers in the Free State were reported in the 2024/25 period. This is a worrying number, and it tells us that we need to act fast to protect our children. Schools should be safe places, but too many learners are still facing abuse, whether from teachers or even other learners. We need to make big changes to stop this from happening again.

We call on the Department of Education to:

1. Stricter Vetting for Teachers: The Department of Education must check the backgrounds of all teachers carefully before they are hired. This will help keep people with a history of bad behaviour away from our schools.
2. Training on Sexual Harassment and Assault: All teachers and school staff should get regular training on how to spot, stop, and deal with sexual harassment and assault. This will help them protect learners better.
3. A Safe Way for Learners to Report Abuse: Schools need a confidential system where learners can report abuse without being scared. This system must be easy to use and well-known so learners feel safe to speak up.
4. No Mercy for Offenders: The Department must have a strict rule that anyone found guilty of sexual misconduct is removed from schools immediately and never allowed to work with children again.
5. Faster Disciplinary Actions: Investigations and hearings must happen quickly so learners are not left in danger while waiting for justice. Delays can cause more harm, and we cannot allow that.
6. Help for Learners Who Suffer Abuse: Schools should offer counselling and support to learners who have been abused. This will help them heal and carry on with their education in a safe space.

We call on all learners who have been abused or know someone who has to speak out. Tell a teacher, a parent, or the authorities what happened. Your voice can stop the abuse and protect others. We also ask parents to make home a friendly and open place where learners feel safe to talk about what’s happening to them. When learners know they can trust the adults around them, they are more likely to ask for help when they need it. Together, we can build a system where learners are heard and protected.

From Edgar Legoale, Chairperson of the Edgar Legoale Foundation

“As the chairperson of the Edgar Legoale Foundation, I am very worried about how much sexual misconduct is happening in our schools. We cannot sit back while our learners suffer. We need to work together to make schools safe by checking teachers properly before they start work, training them to prevent abuse, and giving learners a way to report problems without fear. This is the only way we can make sure our children are safe.”

“We also need to make sure learners feel okay to talk about abuse. Schools must be places where trust and respect come first. Learners should know that if they speak up, someone will listen and help them. It’s our job to make sure they don’t feel scared or alone when something bad happens.”

“Lastly, we must stop delays in punishing those who hurt learners. When cases take too long, learners stay in danger, and that’s not right. I call on the Department of Education to put our learners first by acting fast and making sure they can get a good education in a safe place. Our children’s future depends on what we do now.”

The Edgar Legoale Foundation stands with every learner who has faced abuse and will keep fighting for schools to be safe and respectful places. We will work with the Free State Department of Education, schools, and communities to bring about these changes and stop abuse from happening in the future. Our learners deserve to learn and grow without fear, and we will not stop until that is true for every child.

Issued by Edgar Legoale Foundation

For more information and interviews : Nthabiseng Molejane, Foundation Manager and Spokesperson at 082 287 2290 (Available on WhatsApp and Call) or email at nthabiseng@edgarlegoale.com

www.edgarlegoale.com