POLOKWANE – Concerns over the handling of a sexual assault case at Capricorn TVET College were raised on January 28 when a parliamentary oversight committee questioned the college’s disciplinary decisions during a meeting at its central office in Polokwane.

The scrutiny followed an investigation into allegations that a male IT trainee, placed across all three campuses, inappropriately touched a social work student from another tertiary institution who was completing her practical training at the college.

The investigation, initiated by the Senwabarwana campus, found that the trainee had confessed to the misconduct. The matter was escalated, and a disciplinary process followed.

Lenient sanction draws sharp criticism

A report presented to college principal and accounting officer, Lekau Mamabolo, recommended a month-long suspension and a written warning for the offender.

During the meeting, DA MP and portfolio committee member on higher education, Karabo Khakhau, however, criticised Mamabolo for approving what she described as a lenient sanction instead of dismissing the offender.

Khakhau argued that the decision failed to protect the college community and undermined a safe working and learning environment.

College principal defends decision

Mamabolo defended his actions, saying he acted in line with labour relations law and followed the recommendation of the presiding officer.

He said he could not overturn the outcome unless there had been an objection or appeal from the victim.

“I could not have nullified the recommendation of what should have been the final result, even as an accounting officer,” he said.

Khakhau maintained that Mamabolo should have exercised discretion, stating that his assessment of the report should have been guided by a refusal to tolerate a sexual offender on campus.

Call for ministerial probe into sexual assault handling

The meeting, which was live-streamed, followed an oversight walkabout at the Seshego campus to assess infrastructure conditions.

On Monday, Khakhau wrote to Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela, calling for an investigation into how the college handles sexual assault cases.

She noted that the recommendations in this case did not align with the department’s 2020 gender-based violence policy framework, which declares zero tolerance for sexual harassment in the post-school education and training sector.