3 teachers accused of sexually assaulting pupils at Soshanguve school removed

JOHANNESBURG - Three teachers accused of sexually assaulting pupils have been removed from the Tiyelelani Secondary School in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, by the education department.

Pupils allege the trio is known for sexually assaulting pupils, while a bus driver from the same school is accused of being involved in an inappropriate relationship.

Learning was disrupted for a second day on Wednesday, as protests continued at the school, with political parties and civil rights groups joining pupils.

The protesting pupils accused the principal of not acting on the information of the abuse allegations.

In response, the department of education removed the principal from the school, effective Wednesday, to investigate the claims.

However, protests continued, resulting in the education department officials visiting the school.

In the meeting were members of the school governing body, teachers, political parties and civil rights groups, who had come to show their support to the pupils.

Gauteng Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) deputy chairperson, Phillip Makwala, said he was pleased about the outcome of the meeting.

"Their names were mentioned in that meeting, that they have been engaging in sexual harassment, sexual assault, touching kids at the back, eating their lunch and engaging in a personal relationship with them."

He added that they had agreed that pupils must return to school on Thursday.