Concerns that more child abuse cases are going unreported

Some child protection experts suspect that more child abuses cases are going unreported after the South African Council for Educators (SACE) took 36 teachers off the register for illegal and unethical offences committed against children. 

Another 70 teachers found guilty of serious misconduct have received fines. 

Organisation Equal Education Law said that there were several barriers that make it increasingly difficult for learners to report abuse and misconduct. 

The challenges include fear of retaliation, lengthy investigation periods, and a lack of hope in the justice system.

Attorney at Equal Education Law and child protection expert, Daniel Al Naddaf, said that the law and other stakeholders needed to do more to protect children

"One of the key blockages that we experience is in the linkages between the reporting process at the perspective of SACE and at the point of the school and the investigation procedures that are supposed to take place."