Investigation launched into teacher's alleged sexual misconduct at Pitlochry Primary School
An investigation is underway by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education (DoE) into allegations that a teacher had sent a grade 7 learner text messages of a sexual nature at Pitlochry Primary School in Westville.
Several parents and concerned residents staged a protest outside the school on Tuesday calling for the removal of the teacher. Spokesperson for the DoE, Muzi Mahlambi, said the matter was reported to the school principal on April 5, 2025. Mahlambi said the circuit manager instituted an investigation immediately.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
'The findings and the recommendations are now at the desk of the head of the department to apply his mind and take appropriate actions. We are very disappointed as the department to have such a character teaching our learners. The department frowns at such behaviour,' Mahlambi said.
KwaZulu-Natal Parents Association chairperson, Vee Gani, said the matter was brought to his attention on Thursday. Gani said the matter was already being investigated by the DoE.
Gani said the complaint was lodged with supporting evidence, and that the DoE should have acted immediately to remove or suspend the teacher. Gani said the department must not place him at another school. On vetting of teachers, Gani said it had a good and bad notion. Gani said a teacher can be cleared today but the nature of the person can change tomorrow.
'Even though vetted they can still cause a crime. The department should have acted with speed and should have protected the reputation of the school. The relevant parties should have gotten involved to minimise the reputational risk,' he said.
Gani said that parents must be vigilant and monitor their children's cellphone. Gani said role-players must do all that they can to prevent it from happening again.
'It gets worse when a protector becomes a violator. I hope justice takes its course and if he is found guilty the department must dispense whatever sanction is appropriate for the crime. Putting an article on social media opens the door for all sorts of blame games to happen,' Gani said.
Thirona Moodley, National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA) chief executive officer, said they are against any act of sexual grooming or any advances of a sexual nature between an educator and learners.
'Educators stand in for parents while learners are at school .They are to protect learners and not use their positions to exploit our learners. These are allegations that must be tested and before that we cannot be judge and jury. It is for this reason the department must investigate and report their findings to all concerned,' Moodley said.
Concerned parent Lee Maharajh said the outcome of the awareness protest on Tuesday did not yield the desired results they expected. Maharajh said parents have been left frustrated with the process.
"We wanted answers as parents and community activists as to why it took so long for the school to give feedback on this matter even via the D6 communicator app. The school failed to give us answers. Instead they chose to go on the silence route. Parents have heard about the matter through social media and television news. We wait with bated breath for the outcome of the investigation," Maharajh said
Sydenham police are investigating a case of child grooming following reports that a man was allegedly sending explicit messages to a 12-year-old girl, said police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda.
zainul.dawood@inl.co.za
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
7 hours ago
- IOL News
Is the NPA compromised? Shamila Batohi's remarks spark concern
National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Shamila Batohi, said that the NPA has been infiltrated by unscrupulous prosecutors working in cahoots with criminals to deliberately bungle cases. Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Shamila Batohi's claims that the NPA is infiltrated by corrupt prosecutors, raising serious questions about the integrity of South Africa's justice system, should be a cause for concern for all South Africans, according to political analyst Zakhele Ndlovu. Batohi made these claims last week, in the wake of criticism directed at the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority), particularly over its handling of a special plea concerning Moroadi Cholota, the personal assistant to former Free State premier Ace Magashule. This was after the Free State High Court ruled that Cholota's extradition from the US was unlawful. The NPA also faced scrutiny for its handling of the case involving Nigerian pastor Timothy Omotoso, who was recently acquitted in his long-running rape trial. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Defending the NPA, Batohi claimed that the institution had been compromised by corrupt prosecutors working together with criminals to deliberately sabotage cases. These remarks did not sit well with Justice and Constitutional Development Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, who last week summoned her to an urgent meeting to discuss the matter. President Cyril Ramaphosa also wants to meet Batohi, saying he believed the meeting would allow her an opportunity to vent and lay her cards on the table. Ndlovu, a political science lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal said Batohi's comments were very concerning, adding that it was an open secret that there are questions over the credibility of the NPA . He said Batohi knows what is wrong within the institution and although she had changed her description of the chaos at the NPA from "infiltration" to "sabotage", it did not change the fact that there is a crisis in the prosecutorial body. "The (justice minister) summoned Batohi (to a meeting) because her comments were a poor political reflection. 'Batohi made promises when she was appointed but one reason she has failed is because the NPA has been compromised, and another reason is because of infiltration,' said Ndlovu. Another political analyst, Professor Sipho Seepe, believes Batohi was set up politically. 'A series of bungling gives credence that the NPA has deviated from its mandate of ensuring that it conducts its affairs without fear, favour, or prejudice. In a way, Batohi has arguably been set up. She was probably given the suspects before the alleged crimes were investigated. This is what happens when you have a trial by the media.' 'The likes of Matshela Koko, Brian Molefe, and Siyabonga Gama have already been found guilty by popular opinion. This has placed too much pressure on Batohi. We have seen this play itself out in the case of Duduzane Zuma, who had for months been branded a fugitive from justice. "When he came to bury his brother, he was arrested and treated like a violent criminal only for the case to be thrown out," said Seepe adding that the NPA has demonstrated an eagerness to prosecute frivolous cases and ignore findings that involve politically connected individuals. NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga did not respond to questions on Batohi's comments. Meanwhile, the EFF and MK Party want Batohi to appear before Parliament to explain her remarks. The EFF last week wrote to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, requesting an urgent debate on what it believes is an institutional crisis at the NPA. The party said any assertion from Batohi that the NPA has been infiltrated should send shockwaves throughout every organ of the state.
IOL News
17 hours ago
- IOL News
Ramaphosa calls high-level meeting with Shamilla Bathoi following allegations of NPA infiltration
Advocate Shamila Batohi is due to meet President Cyril Ramaphosa over her recent comments about the state of affairs at the NPA. Image: File A RECENT utterance by Advocate Shamila Batohi, the National Director of Public Prosecutions, has resulted in her being summoned to a meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa. Bathoi's suggestion that the National Prosecuting Authority, the entity that she heads, has been 'infiltrated' and that its integrity might be compromised as rogue prosecutors collude with criminal elements to undermine the authority's work, has resulted in Ramaphosa's reflex action. Her comments, last week has become a major talking point. Therefore, the meeting, which will be highly anticipated, especially since there has been widespread calls for Bathoi to step down based on the NPA's failings, especially in high-profile matters, is poised to be a pivotal moment in South Africa's legal landscape. In a series of candid interviews, Batohi expressed her concerns over what she described as significant breaches of conduct within the NPA, raising alarms about the independence of South Africa's judicial framework. 'The NDPP did make that statement and she later said she used the wrong word about the infiltration. I'm going to have a meeting with her so that she can really download and take off the chest some of the challenges,' Ramaphosa stated during a visit to Sefako Makgatho Primary School on Tuesday. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Cyril Ramaphosa and chief prosecutor Shamila Batohi set to meet. Image: Jacques Naude/African News Agency/ANA The president acknowledged the importance of the meeting, where Batohi will have the opportunity to clarify the scope of her claims and discuss the implications for the NPA's integrity. Despite the unrest surrounding her statements, Ramaphosa expressed confidence in the progress the NPA has made, saying, 'The NPA has really done considerable work to stabilise itself as well as go on with various prosecutions.' He emphasised the need to recognise the challenges faced by the authority while avoiding an overarching narrative that dismisses its achievements. The NPA has faced mounting scrutiny for its handling of high-profile cases, particularly those linked to state capture and the contentious sexual assault trial of Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso. In light of Batohi's comments, criticism has intensified, prompting various political parties to voice their opinions on her future at the helm of the NPA. ActionSA has called for her resignation, labelling her leadership as ineffective in light of the NPA's shortcomings, while the Democratic Alliance (DA) has rallied behind her, vehemently opposing calls for her dismissal. In a robust response to her critics, Batohi has maintained her stance, asserting that she remains steadfast in her role and is not considering resignation. Her term as NDPP is set to expire in January 2026, a period during which she hopes to resolve both internal conflicts and external pressures affecting the NPA's operations.
IOL News
19 hours ago
- IOL News
Lingering questions over the mysterious death of former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste
There is still no vital information regarding the death of former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste. Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers More than a year after the mysterious death of former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste, vital information regarding his death remains unaccounted for, said a police source. Jooste, who was ordered to pay a R475 million fine for accounting fraud by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). However, he allegedly shot himself after police notified him that an arrest warrant had been issued against him. It was reported that he succumbed to a gunshot wound at his Cape Town residence in Hermanus, but questions surrounding the circumstances of his death remain a mystery Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The source said there was still no post-mortem and morgue number in the inquest docket and there was no proof of the weapon he allegedly used. The Western Cape police said in a statement yesterday that the allegations were unfounded, as a post-mortem had been conducted and the report had been filed in the docket for court purposes. 'The investigation into the death of the late Mr Jooste had been concluded and the docket was submitted to the National Prosecuting Authority to be placed on the court role where a formal inquest will be conducted. "The firearm used during the incident was subjected to ballistic tests. Thereafter, returned to the executor as the weapon was registered in the name of the deceased. A report of the ballistic test is filed in the docket for court purposes. The result of both reports will only be disclosed during the formal inquest hearing in court. The date is yet to be determined,' read the statement The FCSA said Jooste had played a role in the publishing of misleading financial statements about Steinhoff International Holdings. Fake transactions worth $6.5bn were made by Steinhoff executives in order to inflate profits, an audit by PwC found. Close to 98% of Steinhoff's share value was wiped out in 2017 when the accounting scandal first broke. Jooste resigned as chief executive but denied any knowledge of accounting fraud. He was also later fined for insider trading in 2020. Last week, a social justice movement, the Progressive Civics Congress (PCC) told IOL that the public deserves transparency and accountability over the scandal, adding that the silence from authorities raises suspicion. 'Jooste was involved in compromising the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) funds, amounting to R200 billion, belonging to the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF)." "The Steinhoff scandal was a national issue, yet we have no answers about what happened to those pension funds. The public deserves transparency and accountability—and the silence from authorities raises suspicion.' The organisation further criticised the silence of labor unions, which traditionally advocated for workers' rights and oversight in such matters, saying their inaction may have contributed to the ongoing economic crisis, asserting that the loss of investment confidence and subsequent budget deficits have directly impacted ordinary citizens. Crime expert and violence monitor, Mary de Haas, also pointed out the broader issues of accountability and the integrity of investigations. She told IOL that provincial police commissioners have the authority to expedite inquiries but have seemingly done little to resolve the case or uncover the truth. 'Questions about whether Jooste truly died by suicide or was murdered remain unanswered,' de Haas said. 'The only way to find out is through the post-mortem report, but access to such crucial documents is often denied or delayed. Without it, we are left to speculate.' De Haas also highlighted the broader pattern of disappearances and unexplained deaths linked to political and financial scandals in South Africa, raising fears that some cases might be deliberately obscured to protect powerful interests.
