Hon Deputy Speaker, shocking news is the arrest of a high-school teacher in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni for the alleged rape of 11 pupils. It must be a signal to the Department of Basic Education that something is very wrong in the ranks of our teachers.
Far greater care must be taken and psychological screening of teachers must take place before our children are put in their absolute care and under their guardianship. There should be structures within the school environment to identify such potential threats to our children and to deal with them long before they translate into actual reality.
Yesterday we debated the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children in respect of protecting the women and children of this land. Deputy Speaker, are we failing our children in this solemn duty?