ID’S HANIFF HOOSEN CALLS FOR ‘NATIONAL AWARENESS CAMPAIGN ON RAPE AND SEXUAL ABUSE’
6 OCTOBER 2009-Haniff Hoosen, the ID Spokesperson for Education, has called on the Education Department and the SA Council of Educators to embark on ‘a national awareness campaign to educate our school children on rape and sexual abuse, particularly in schools.’
Haniff Hoosen, the ID Spokesperson for Education, has called on the
Education Department and the SA Council of Educators to embark on ‘a
national awareness campaign to educate our school children on rape and
sexual abuse, particularly in schools.’
The ID MP’s call comes after the suspension of yet another educator, again in KZN. The principle of a Nongoma school was suspended for allegedly raping a 15-year-old pupil, also apparently his cousin.
‘This case is just too shocking for words because it involves someone who is alleged to have betrayed two positions of trust, one as a family member and the other as an educator,’ Mr Hoosen says.
‘However, considering how often girl children in our country are raped by family members and educators, it pains me to say that I was not surprised to read about this case.
‘The ID firmly believes the time for debate around whether rape and sexual abuse are increasing or decreasing has passed. This is the time for true leadership and a real commitment to providing a life free of sexual violence to our children,’ says Hoosen.
‘The Department must start distributing pamphlets and posters in all languages to every school in our country, encouraging school children to report cases of sexual abuse by principles, teachers or fellow pupils.
‘And the Department must regularly ensure that these pamphlets and posters are actually being used,’ Hoosen says.
‘Besides this, communities must be educated about women and children’s rights so that they report those that are continuing the cycle of abuse. Our traditional leaders must also be encouraged to be part of this campaign.
‘The Department should also establish a hotline where learners can report cases of sexual abuse and the contact number for this hotline should be placed on the pamphlets and posters.
‘We remain extremely concerned that the Education Department has still not compiled a national register of sex offenders, in line with the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act [extract below],’ says Hoosen.
Earlier this year, in response to a Parliamentary question from Hoosen, the Minister confirmed that her department had not applied for clearance certificates from the Registrar of Sex Offenders for the more than 380 000 teachers in her department.
In her response, the Minister cited a delay by the Registrar in capturing the information as the main reason for her non-compliance.
‘Our children remain exposed to a minority of “sex pest” teachers simply because the Department has failed to screen and root them out, thereby sending a strong message to other potential sex pets that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated,’ Hoosen says.
For media enquiries, please call Haniff Hoosen, on 084 200 0460
EXTRACT FROM THE SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT 2007 -
45. (1) Any employer who—
(b) from the date of establishment of the Register, intends employing an employee, must, in the prescribed manner, apply to the Registrar for a prescribed certificate, stating whether or not the particulars of the potential employee are recorded in the Register.
(3) An employer who fails to comply with any provision of this section, is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding seven years or to both a fine and such imprisonment.
ENDS…
The ID MP’s call comes after the suspension of yet another educator, again in KZN. The principle of a Nongoma school was suspended for allegedly raping a 15-year-old pupil, also apparently his cousin.
‘This case is just too shocking for words because it involves someone who is alleged to have betrayed two positions of trust, one as a family member and the other as an educator,’ Mr Hoosen says.
‘However, considering how often girl children in our country are raped by family members and educators, it pains me to say that I was not surprised to read about this case.
‘The ID firmly believes the time for debate around whether rape and sexual abuse are increasing or decreasing has passed. This is the time for true leadership and a real commitment to providing a life free of sexual violence to our children,’ says Hoosen.
‘The Department must start distributing pamphlets and posters in all languages to every school in our country, encouraging school children to report cases of sexual abuse by principles, teachers or fellow pupils.
‘And the Department must regularly ensure that these pamphlets and posters are actually being used,’ Hoosen says.
‘Besides this, communities must be educated about women and children’s rights so that they report those that are continuing the cycle of abuse. Our traditional leaders must also be encouraged to be part of this campaign.
‘The Department should also establish a hotline where learners can report cases of sexual abuse and the contact number for this hotline should be placed on the pamphlets and posters.
‘We remain extremely concerned that the Education Department has still not compiled a national register of sex offenders, in line with the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act [extract below],’ says Hoosen.
Earlier this year, in response to a Parliamentary question from Hoosen, the Minister confirmed that her department had not applied for clearance certificates from the Registrar of Sex Offenders for the more than 380 000 teachers in her department.
In her response, the Minister cited a delay by the Registrar in capturing the information as the main reason for her non-compliance.
‘Our children remain exposed to a minority of “sex pest” teachers simply because the Department has failed to screen and root them out, thereby sending a strong message to other potential sex pets that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated,’ Hoosen says.
For media enquiries, please call Haniff Hoosen, on 084 200 0460
EXTRACT FROM THE SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT 2007 -
45. (1) Any employer who—
(b) from the date of establishment of the Register, intends employing an employee, must, in the prescribed manner, apply to the Registrar for a prescribed certificate, stating whether or not the particulars of the potential employee are recorded in the Register.
(3) An employer who fails to comply with any provision of this section, is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding seven years or to both a fine and such imprisonment.
ENDS…
