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By Johnathan Paoli
Civil society organisation NotInMyName International (NIMNI) is calling for the immediate dismissal of a teacher at Prinshof School for the Blind in Pretoria, following disturbing allegations that he raped a 14-year-old learner in 2024.
NIMNI spokesperson Themba Masango said the education department must act swiftly and decisively in response to the allegations.
“The Department of Education needs to come in here and handle this issue. Gender-based violence, femicide and the assault of young children need to be made a national outcry. We cannot afford to have teachers like this amongst us,” Masango said.
The movement staged a protest outside the school on Monday, calling for urgent intervention by the Gauteng Education Department.
The case, which only came to light recently, has sparked outrage amid growing concerns about sexual abuse within South African schools.
“This horrific crime came to light only after the victim’s father, concerned by a sudden drop in her academic performance, pursued the matter with school authorities. It was then that the traumatised child confided in her father, revealing that she was no longer happy or comfortable at the school because she had been sexually assaulted by the said teacher,” said Masango.
“We hold the school management accountable for their apparent failure to protect this child and to create a safe environment where learners can thrive without fear. The fact that this was uncovered by a vigilant parent, and not through the school’s own safeguarding mechanisms, is a damning indictment of its leadership. We confirm that the names of both the minor victim and the alleged perpetrator are known to us. We welcome the news that a criminal case has been opened at a Pretoria South African Police Service (SAPS) station and we will be closely monitoring its progress.”
The girl’s father, who asked to remain anonymous, told journalists he was only informed of the alleged assault two weeks ago after being called to the school by social workers concerned about his daughter’s academic performance and fainting spells.
According to him, the teenager confessed during a private session that she had been sexually assaulted by her music teacher.
“She explained that on that day the class was moved to a different room without cameras. That’s when it happened. He touched her, tried to kiss her, and put his hands in her private parts,” the father said.
The father expressed anger that he had been kept in the dark.
“I then asked the social workers why I am hearing this for the first time. They said they thought I knew. The school spoke to the mother and child, but I was excluded. The mother admitted she was told the case was being handled internally,” he added.
The father has since opened a criminal case and sought legal advice.
He claims that when he approached the school principal for information, he was met with hostility.
“I asked for the case file with my daughter’s statement and meeting minutes. The principal told the social worker not to give me anything and said if I wanted answers, I should ask my daughter or her mother. She told me to get out of her office,” he recounted.
The family has called for transparency, saying the school attempted to suppress the matter instead of escalating it to authorities.
The Prinshof case is not isolated.
In the Free State, six former learners from St Bernard High School in Bloemfontein have come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against at least three teachers.
The incidents, which reportedly took place in 2024 and 2025, involved inappropriate messages, unsolicited nude images, and other forms of misconduct.
Lesedi Motlangane, 19, said she decided to go public after a teacher sent her explicit material.
Another former learner, Mapaseka Veldman, said a teacher sent her a sexually inappropriate video.
Following media exposure, the Free State Education Department confirmed that one of the implicated teachers has been dismissed, while two others face suspension pending investigations.
These cases underscore systemic failures in schools’ handling of sexual abuse complaints.
Victims and parents often face intimidation, while institutions appear to prioritise reputational protection over learner safety.
NotInMyName International has vowed to intensify its campaign until the accused Prinshof teacher is removed from the classroom and criminal proceedings are expedited.
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