The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has terminated its partnership with Nali’Bali with immediate effect following an alleged sexual assault by one of Nali’Bali’s practitioners on a Grade Three learner at Braamfischerville Primary School on March 24.

According to Soweto Urban, Nali’Bali is a national reading-for-enjoyment campaign, which partnered with the GDE to propel SA children through storytelling and reading.

It is said that the child’s parent reported the matter to the school on March 25.

The principal advised them to open a criminal case.

The alleged perpetrator, not a GDE employee, was suspended by his organisation and arrested on March 28. He was expected to appear for a bail hearing today. The outcome was not yet known by the time of publishing.

Sexual misconduct in schools

This incident comes as the department continues to address sexual misconduct in schools, like the CweCwe case. Cwecwe from Matatiele, Eastern Cape, was raped, allegedly while she was waiting for her transport at Bergview College last year.

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane said the matter at Braamfischerville ‘is an exceedingly disturbing incident’.

“Our children must never experience such cruelty from adults who are supposed to care for them. We remain committed to creating a safe and secure environment for all learners.”

He added that they would continue to work with law enforcement and relevant partners to ensure such incidents are transparently and justly dealt with.

Nali’Bali, in a statement released on Wednesday, addressed the ‘deeply disturbing allegations of sexual misconduct by an employee, involving minors in Braamfischerville Primary School in Roodepoort, Gauteng’. The organisation stated that ‘the safety and well-being of children are our highest priorities, and we have no tolerance for any form of abuse or inappropriate behaviour towards children involved in our programmes and activities’.

According to Nali’Bali, they learned of the incident on March 27, and immediately implemented disciplinary action, suspending the employee in question on the same day. They confirmed that the parents of the victims opened a criminal case against the perpetrator and was handed over to the police on March 28, ‘for the law to take its course’.

Nali’Bali further stated their commitment to ‘creating safe and nurturing environments for children to learn and grow’ and affirmed they are ‘taking all necessary measures to uphold the highest standards of child protection’. The organisation recognised ‘the gravity of this incident and is fully committed to taking decisive action to address these allegations, protect children, and uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability’. They pledged to handle the matter with transparency, sensitivity, and a resolute commitment to justice and accountability.

To date, records show that 42 cases of sexual misconduct were reported to the GDE, of which 19 have been finalised and resulted in 11 employees being found not guilty, two cases withdrawn because of insufficient evidence, and one resignation while another employee retired from public service.

There are 23 cases pending finalisation, with 15 at various stages of disciplinary hearings and eight still under investigation.

In all the cases, those implicated have been placed on precautionary suspension or transferred to district offices pending the outcomes of investigations.

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