The IFP calls on the Law and criminal justice system to impose sentences harsher than life imprisonment such as the death penalty, for teachers committing serious crimes such as rape and murder. This comes after newspaper reports of a 33-year-old teacher who has been arrested for allegedly raping a 10-year-old boy in Mondlo, Vryheid.
Parents and guardians send their children to school with the expected assurance that they are in safe, protective environment with teachers they trust. It is a pity that today, there is no greater threat to children than paedophiles who are supposed to be children’s keepers. This country has gone over the edge and we are now in a free fall and the justice system appears to have failed to protect our children and women against this scourge.
Every day somewhere in our country a learner is being sexually molested or touched inappropriately by a trusted teacher in our school system. Learner sexual abuse is a plague that seems to be growing. While this is not only a problem in education, we are particularly concerned about school employees because of the trust the society places in them to care for our children. Harshest example must be made against the minority teachers who are sexual predators to kids. Our schools are no place for paedophiles, harassers and sexual predators.
As the IFP we have been approached by many South Africans who are calling for the reinstatement of capital punishment in South Africa and we feel that government should at the very least open this matter up to the national discourse for discussion by our citizens in a process akin to the recent Constitutional Review Committee process on expropriation of Land.
Let’s talk about the death penalty, let’s talk about such teachers and other paedophiles getting hard labour in our prisons without the chance of early parole for these violent contact crimes. We call upon government to immediately facilitate such national process of discourse. Our country needs this debate, strong action is needed to end rape and murder scourge.
Contact:
Mrs T.P Madlopha-Mthethwa, MPL
IFP Spokesperson for Education
KZN Provincial Legislature
079 114 3015 / 071 884 3844