Classroom sex offenders on rise in Western Cape

A surge in misconduct findings against teachers including sexual offences has intensified concerns over South Africa’s fragmented vetting systems, with teacher union Naptosa warning that even the Western Cape is not immune to systemic failures.

This follows a parliamentary disclosure that the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) recorded 469 allegations nationally between 2018/19 and 2024/25, with 176 guilty findings issued between 2021/22 and 2025/26.

The Western Cape accounted for 16 of them. National Professional Teachers' Organisation SA (Naptosa) said the figures raise a pressing question: how many offenders slipped through the cracks?

Naptosa Western Cape provincial chief executive Riedwaan Ahmed told the Cape Argus the disclosures show repeated failures to keep unfit educators out of classrooms. “NAPTOSA is gravely concerned by the figures revealed in Parliament (469 alleged cases recorded by the ELRC… 176 resulted in guilty findings). These figures, and related reporting about vetting delays caused by the Department of Justice’s manual NRSO processes, demand urgent and concrete action to protect learners,” he said.

Ahmed said lower Western Cape numbers do not mean the province is protected.

“The national statistics are deeply worrying and must be treated as an urgent alarm bell for every province, including the Western Cape… the pattern — a steady stream of allegations, a substantial proportion of guilty findings, and vetting bottlenecks mirrors challenge the WCED is already trying to address,” he said.

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education welcomed the ELRC’s verification drive — committee chairperson Joy Maimela said it was necessary to determine “what is really happening on the ground”.

But Ahmed argued the same briefing exposed ongoing risks. Asked whether current systems adequately protect learners, his response was blunt: “Short answer: No — not reliably.”

He said delays in vetting, particularly with the Department of Justice’s manual National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) processes remain a major vulnerability. “Vetting is a major bottleneck… teachers can be appointed or remain in post before vetting is final.

Ahmed also raised concern over educators re-entering the system despite red flags. “This is a real and documented concern… educators flagged on registers or with adverse findings have, in some instances, been rehired… because of poor information-sharing, slow vetting.” He said the WCED has recently tightened internal vetting to address this.

Meanwhile, Western Cape Education Department (WCED) spokesperson Bronagh Hammond urged reporters to verify ELRC’s figures directly, stating the department’s stats and the timeline of reporting may differ.

According to Hammond, two educators were found guilty of sexual offenses in 2022, with another eight recorded in 2023 and another five last year. 

“Re-employment of former educators dismissed for misconduct is governed… In terms of Regulation 6(3) there is an indefinite period of prohibition for re-employment for an educator who was dismissed for sexual assault.”

She emphasised the number of compulsory checks used during WCED recruitment. “In addition to the NRSO vetting, the department has vetting procedures… including verification of their Identity Document, criminal profile and qualifications. They are also vetted against the National Child Protection Register.” 

Hammond said SACE registration is mandatory for educators and that “newly qualified educators are also vetted when they register for their SACE certificate”.

Ahmed said that once guilt is established, consequences must be permanent. “Where an educator is convicted… or found guilty of sexual misconduct involving a learner… NAPTOSA supports permanent removal from the profession and automatic de-registration by SACE.”