The Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC)in South Africa has dismissed a Welkom Preparatory School Teacher, having found him guilty of sexually assaulting a learner.
Evidence emerged after the 14-year-old’s mother handed her daughter a cellphone to gather evidence against a Free State teacher; she used it to record him soliciting sex from her.
ELRC panelist, Shiraz Osman, who listened to the recording, noted that “Ms X further testified that she had relayed the incident to her mother, who had given her a cellular phone to record the educator. A great thought. I must admit”
The victim, pronounced as ‘Ms X’ in the finding, testified that she was uncomfortable when the educator whispered in her ear that he was “not going to penetrate her too much.”
Sharing her side of the story with the ELRC panel, the schoolgirl indicated that the teacher was giving her a ride home in his car on a rainy day. The child explained that she sat in the front passenger seat while two other children were in the back.
After at least two days, the schoolgirl recorded her teacher telling her they would take a drive, drink alcohol and kiss each other.
“He gave Ms X his cellphone number and asked her not to repeat what he had discussed. When the learner asked the educator for clarity about what she should ‘give’ him, the educator indicated that she will give him her vagina.”
According to Osman, the schoolgirl appeared to be an honest and bright lady as she was testifying.
“I am not persuaded that she would fabricate such a story. In any event she had had the conversation recorded,” said Osman.
In a statement by the teacher who couldn’t attend the hearing, the educator stated that the learner asked him for alcohol.
“He suggested that the learner had asked him if he would expect some sexual ‘payment’. Seemingly, the educator has a fabricated version,” said Osman.