The basic education minister, Angie Moshekga announced that 45% of teachers found guilty for sexual misconduct against learners were back at work.

Motshekga said 289 complaints of sexual abuse had been received by the SA Council of Educators (SACE). Of these, 62 teachers who were found guilty were  still being allowed to teach. Moshekga was replying to a paliamentary question posed by DA MP Annete Lovemore.

SACE spokesman Themba Ndhlovu said each case of sexual abuse was treated differently depending on the offence and the circumstances around it.

“If the teacher is proposing love to a learner … it is wrong for that teacher to do that, [but] we can say we are striking you off the roll but because of the merit it is suspended. If they raped or had sex with them [learners] then they are off the roll permanently,” he said to a Sowetan reporter.

MP Lovemore said it was simply unacceptable for the teachers to go back to work.