MBOMBELA – St Peter’s School dismissed one of its teachers this week after she had been charged and found guilty of misconduct towards pupils in a disciplinary hearing.
The principal, Mr Jacques Janse van Rensburg, confirmed that the teacher, who couldn’t be named because she had not been criminally charged yet, was fired on Wednesday. This followed an investigation which commenced when the school was made aware of the allegations on May 8. She was immediately suspended and dismissed this week on the recommendation of the independent chairman who had led the disciplinary process.
In a letter to parents, Janse van Rensburg said the allegations related to misconduct involving inappropriate conversations and the exposure of indecent images via a cellphone. Ms Barbara Kenyon of the Greater Rape Intervention Project was called in to counsel the children involved. According to her, what had happened couldn’t be considered as sexual or physical assault or grooming.
“It was not serious at all. She got too close. She became too friendly, taking the children into her confidence too much.” Kenyon confirmed that a group of about 10 children consisting of more girls than boys were involved. Some of them reported the matter when they became uncomfortable.
“As part of the counselling we talked about their feelings regarding the consequences. The children were worried about the teacher’s future. My job was to reassure them that they did the right thing to report the matter and that they should follow their gut when something made them uncomfortable. “It is the school’s duty to react the way it did to prevent it from going any further,” she added.
Apart from its proactive reaction, the school has also been at pains to be open to parents of the school about the matter.
“St Peter’s School Nelspruit and the Catholic Church recognise that this is a very serious matter and will not tolerate conduct of this nature from any staff member. This is an emotive issue and we appeal to the community not to speculate and judge as the staff member involved has a constitutional right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law,” Janse van Rensburg added.
The police’s cyber unit has reportedly had confiscated her phone and is investigating the matter.
