In a recent report, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) flagged a deeply
concerning trend, revealing that thousands of sexual violence incidents are occurring within the
country's schools. According to data compiled by the commission, more than 26,800 cases of
sexual abuse were officially recorded in just a single year. The SAHRC pointed to a widespread
lack of strict vetting procedures for school personnel as one of the primary contributing factors
driving this crisis.
The report specifically highlights a dangerous regulatory loophole regarding non-teaching staff.
Individuals working closely with students—including sports coaches, facilitators, classroom
assistants, and participants in youth employment schemes—do not fall uniformly under standard
educator regulatory structures. Consequently, many of these employees are not subjected to the
same rigorous background checks as qualified teachers.
This oversight creates a severe safety risk, meaning that individuals are granted direct access to
children without first being formally screened against criminal registries or sex offender records.
The SAHRC emphasizes that standardizing and enforcing strict vetting protocols

Tshepo Madlingozi - SAHRC Commissioner

Matakanye Matakanya, General Secretary of the National Association of
School Governing Bodies

Mfundo Ntandane, Social Worker & Mental Health Activist