Former learners of St Bernard High School in Bloemfontein have made damning allegations of sexual harassment against several teachers. Six former learners have opened cases with the police.

Five were in Matric last year, while one was in Grade 10. She has since been transferred from the school and left Bloemfontein.

Learners are future assets

Speaking to OFM News, Free State education spokesperson Howard Ndaba said school safety is a societal issue and the department cannot deal with it alone. He said some of the issues happen at home and are brought back to school.

“It's very important that as stakeholders we work together not only to deal with this kind of social ill but also other criminality in our schools, drug abuse, bullying, learners bringing illegal items into our schools, and vandalism of our schools.

“Those are the things that we need to deal with because schools belong to society, these learners are future assets, and we need to make sure we safeguard them.”

Ndaba emphasised parents should also be involved in ensuring learners are safe in schools. Speaking to SABC, Kgomotso Mokobe (19), who matriculated in 2024, described how one of the teachers allegedly assaulted her. 

“I saw a post on Facebook, Lesedi Mohlakoana’s post, and then I voiced what happened to me, and the EFF reached out to me. It started when I received a message from a teacher here at St Bernard High School, and he told me that he had feelings for me, and after that, he sent a learner to come and fetch me from class so that I could go to his office.

“When I went to his office, he forced me to close the door, and that is when the whole incident started happening. He pulled me close to him and started doing inappropriate things. 

“Touching my bottom and forcefully kissing me. I was not comfortable as well, and it was even disgusting.”

Ndaba said the matter of sexual violence in schools needs to be dealt with in a holistic manner, citing that in some of the cases, parents would withdraw the cases, stating that they do not want their children to be subjected to processes of examinations and questioning.

A number of teachers have been charged for similar incidents, and some were dismissed, and some had cases that were opened with the police, he added.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi mvh