PROTECT VICTIMS OF ABUSE, NOT THE PERPETRATORS
GOOD HAS REQUESTED THE WESTERN CAPE CHILD COMMISSIONER TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE AT A CAPE TOWN HIGH SCHOOL
Statement by Brett Herron, Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament and GOOD Secretary General
30 June 2020
Section 110(1) of the Children’s Act compels teachers to report any reasonable suspicion of child abuse and neglect, and Section 54 of the Sexual Offences Act requires any person with knowledge of a sexual offence committed against a child to immediately report this to police.
Failure of teachers or informed members of the public to report these crimes is a criminal offence in itself.
Following multiple allegations of sexual abuse, and of teachers failing to report allegations of abuse after being informed by learners at Table View High School in Cape Town, I have asked the Western Cape Children’s Commissioner and the MEC for Education to investigate these claims.
The allegations that reports of the sexual abuse were suppressed because one of the abusers is the son of a senior member of the Western Cape Provincial legislature is of particular concern.
These allegations that have surfaced over the past week highlight the importance of having an impartial Children’s Commissioner in the Province.
When a victim of abuse steps forward, and other victims come forward with their stories, too, (https://www.facebook.com/meags.nicole/videos/10217488821954638/) it is immoral and criminal for those to whom they report the crimes take no action.
Justice, not silence, is what our country needs.
ends