Violent and absentee teachers rife in Western Cape: report

Assault and abscondment are the two charges most frequently brought against Western Cape teachers and education department employees.

The Cape Argus reported that between April last year and March, there were 104 departmental hearings involving alleged attempted or threatened assault in the province.

Department spokesman Paddy Atwell said the assault charges normally involved corporal punishment.

In the same period, there were 30 hearings for abscondment (IE: teachers just not showing up to work).

The figures formed part of the department's 2011/2012 annual report, which revealed that 285 misconduct and disciplinary hearings had been finalised.

Of these, 25 related to sexual assault of a pupil, 17 to improper, disgraceful and unacceptable conduct, and 13 to unlawful industrial action.

According to the report, 83 employees were fired or deserted their posts over the year.

Atwell told the newspaper that while the number of cases was concerning, it reflected the department's success at investigating, prosecuting and reporting offenders.