Child protection is everyone’s duty

IT’S very disturbing to read that the South African Council of Educators (Sace) will have to face a police probe after criminal charges were opened against it over its failure to vet teachers for sexual offences against children.

Our schools and Sace need to play a substantial role in reversing the normalisation of sexual assault and protect our young women.

Now, with men held to account all over the continent for their damaging behaviour towards women and children, our schools

Views on Muslims seem anti-islamic

REGARDING the letter by Sanu Singh on May 27, armchair critics are a dime a dozen.

Born in Kwazulu-natal, I am familiar with Zulu customs. I’ve befriended many Muslims in my travels. My best employer was a Muslim and my business associate was a Muslim who showed me only love, compassion and tolerance.

Singh’s letter appears antiislamic and a rethink of approach is required. I believe service to humanity is service to God.

LALLO M HARIRAM umhlanga Ridge

need to engage all students in talking about this.

While rape is an uncomfortable topic of conversation for many, it is quite literally on us, as parents, to start the conversation. If we are able to talk about such an uncomfortable thing that occurs at our school, we can confront this issue head on.

Only in having an open discussion with all members of our community – the administration, counsellors, students and student groups – will we be able to be honest about sexual assault at our school.

It is not only the duty of our school’s administration to make sure every case of sexual assault at schools is prioritised – it is also our duty to make sure we are holding Sace accountable.

When those heinous acts are uncovered, when those teaching our children cross that uncrossable line, their acts need to be splashed across the main news pages.

Teachers who are found guilty must have their names struck off from the roll of educators and their names submitted to the Department of Social Development to be listed as people unfit to work with children.

Our stories are the result of a tragically flawed system that allows school institutions to protect their reputations and sexual abusers rather than children. We need stronger vetting processes for the employees who work with our children.

HIRESH RAMTHOL

Sandton