Teachers barred for supporting abuse accused
An emotionally charged week for parents rocked by the arrest of a school counsellor for allegedly sexually abusing pupil, ended with the suspension of several teachers.
|||Durban - An emotionally charged week for Pietermaritzburg parents rocked by the arrest of a school counsellor for allegedly sexually abusing pupils aged between 5 and 11, ended with the suspension of several teachers.
The teachers, who were suspended pending an investigation by the Department of Education, are alleged to have supported the accused counsellor at his appearances in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s court over the past two weeks.
The school has been in turmoil following the arrest of the counsellor (in June), a cycling figure and sports photographer, and the allegations that surfaced thereafter.
Initially, the accused faced three counts of sexual abuse but after his first appearance, more pupils came forward, bringing the count to nine. It has been alleged that the counsellor selected boys who matched a particular description and who were in need of counselling, and preyed on them.
His abuse allegedly occurred on the school premises during the counselling sessions.
The matter came to the fore when a parent queried the “touching” games his son told about that were being played during the counselling.
The counsellor, who was denied bail this week, indicated that when the matter came to trial he would plead not guilty. He is represented by attorney Siva Chetty. He has denied all the allegations against him.
During the bail application, the counsellor submitted his resume, which positioned him as a top achiever. Bail was denied.
The school denied any knowledge of the alleged abuse.
Education MEC Mthandeni Dlungwane, who was in court, has vowed to assist the school. The department has placed the affected children into other schools and is now conducting an investigation.
This week, after a heated meeting at the school on Wednesday evening, the school issued a notice advising that the teachers who had attended court, allegedly in support of the counsellor, had been suspended.
The school governing body issued the letter saying it had formulated an “action plan” in a bid to appease the irate and angry parents, who have voiced their concern over the school’s lack of action.
“We understand that emotions are running very high and we advise you on the plans we are putting in place to ensure that the school can move forward, ensuring the safety of every child at the school,” read the letter.
The department of education has now been called on to conduct an investigation into those teachers who were were in court.
Those teachers have “been requested to stay away from school pending an investigation”.
The department will also be at the school from Monday to conduct an age appropriate “child’s rights and child protection” awareness programme for the pupils.
The notice to the school community also said further sessions, for those who were counselled by the school’s former counsellor, would be arranged.
“The staff are compiling that list and all parents will be notified if their child’s name appears on that list,” says the letter.
The counsellor will appear in court again in August.
A support group has been set up on social media to raise funds to meet the unexpected costs associated with the affected children having to transfer to another school.
Sunday Tribune