Educator terminated due to alleged sexual misconduct with a student, with a compromising video going viral within the school. Image: TeachHUB.
(The Post News)– Shocking exhibits of a teacher partaking in sexual activities with a female pupil, including a photo of her private parts and another of her lying on his chest, were shown during an Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) arbitration hearing.
Both Learner B and Mokomele denied any involvement with the explicit content. During his testimony, Mokomele denied having a sexual relationship with Learner B and characterised it as a teacher-pupil relationship. However, Boyce noted the evidence gathered from witnesses strongly supported the claim that Mokomele had a sexual relationship with Learner B.
One witness, a learner at Golf View Secondary School, insisted that Mokomele and Learner B were indeed having a romantic relationship, citing the frequency of her visits to his office and the money and food she would bring back after these visits. Meanwhile, Mokomele continued to deny the accusations when asked about a picture of him and Learner B in bed, saying he did not recognise the person on his chest.
However, his claims were dismissed as a teacher; Miss Lesego Mosweu’s cross-examination proved otherwise. Moreover, the principal, Mr Daniel Manone, and Miss Mosweu identified Mokomele as having sex with Learner B in the alleged video, leaving no doubt about the teacher’s alleged sexual relationship with the student.
On the same day, the ELRC also fired Paseka Molefe, the principal of Letsatsing Secondary School in Mmabatho, North West. Molefe was found guilty of sexually assaulting a Grade 8 pupil by grabbing her waist and apparently saying it was “pleasurable to grab”.
According to Boyce, Molefe failed to provide a plausible explanation for why the pupil accused him of sexual assault. Boyce highlighted the prevalence of inappropriate conduct and sexual assault by educators on learners, stating it has reached a crisis point. He also noted that the pupil likely wouldn’t have reported the incident if it weren’t for the talk on sexual harassment by students from North West University.
Gontlefela Lekoko, a candidate attorney representing Molefe, was unable to comment on the case. The department has not yet indicated whether they intend to take the matter on review to the Labour Court.
Boyce, who presided over both hearings, determined that Mokomole and Molefe were unfit to work with children. Boyce also ruled that the pupils’ names be entered on the Department of Social Development’s Child Protection Register. Both Mokomole and Molefe pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The department spokesperson, Mphata Molokwane, has urged learners to speak out in cases of sexual victimisation and emphasized the importance of teachers fostering a caring and parental relationship with learners while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
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