Sex offenders in Gauteng schools

Politicians in the Gauteng legislature were stunned after discovering that nine Gauteng department of education (GDE) employees got jobs in the department despite having criminal records related to sexual offences.

- Itumeleng Mafisa

DA MPL Michael Waters said this was revealed in a presentation to the portfolio committee on education on 7 November.

He said the presentation revealed that out of the 86 367 employees in public schools, 8 782, or 10.2%, had been vetted against the national register for sexual offences (NRSO).

Those found with convictions include four primary school teachers, four general assistants and one food handler.

Waters, who is also the DA spokesperson on education, told The Citizen the revelations were "alarming" to parents and pupils.

"The discovery that nine school employees have convictions for sexual offences is worrying and confirms that our schools are far from safe," he said.