Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance (DA) urges all employers in the education sector to take immediate and concerted steps to reinforce vetting processes and ensure that no individual listed on the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) or the National Child Protection Register (NCPR) is appointed to any school environment.
The recent disclosure in Parliament that more than 60 educators have been flagged through NRSO and SAPS clearance processes is deeply concerning. This development underscores the need for urgent corrective measures. All employers – including Provincial Education Departments, school governing bodies, and owners of independent schools – are legally obliged not to appoint, and to immediately remove from service, any person found on these Registers.
Every child has the right to learn in a safe and supportive environment. Upholding that right requires employers to fulfil their statutory obligations with diligence and urgency. The protection of children must remain paramount.
A particular area of concern is the slow pace of vetting against the NRSO. The present vetting backlog is untenable and exposes children to unnecessary risk. The DA therefore calls on the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ&CD) to prioritise applications involving schools and other child-centred settings, increase capacity, and streamline vetting processes. Without timely turnaround from the DoJ&CD, employers cannot fully meet their legal responsibilities.
We acknowledge and welcome the efforts of the Minister of Basic Education to improve interdepartmental coordination and address the long-standing implementation challenges that have hindered progress. Initiatives to strengthen collaboration with SAPS, the DoJ&CD, and the Department of Social Development are essential steps forward and must be supported by operational urgency across the system.
The Minister of Basic Education must continue efforts to ensure this collaboration yields outcomes for the sector.
The South African Council for Educators (SACE) must also reinforce its internal safeguards to ensure that educators listed on the NRSO or NCPR are promptly removed from the educators’ register. This measure is vital to upholding the integrity of the profession and ensuring that individuals deemed unsuitable to work with children cannot enter or re-enter school environments.
While the Department of Basic Education has issued guidance to provinces regarding individuals identified on the NRSO, the system cannot function effectively without rapid processing of vetting results and swift action by employers. Any delays pose unacceptable risks to learners.
Strengthened cooperation is urgently required among the DoJ&CD, the Department of Social Development, SAPS, SACE, the DBE, and Provincial Education Departments. Enhanced information flow, consistent reporting, and accelerated vetting processes are critical to safeguarding learners.
Schools operate on trust, and that trust is compromised when individuals unsuitable to work with children are not removed from the system promptly and decisively. Employers must ensure comprehensive vetting of all educators, school staff, and service providers before appointments are confirmed, and must act decisively whenever red flags emerge.
The safety and dignity of every child must remain non-negotiable. The DA will continue to advocate for a coordinated, urgent response to strengthen vetting, enforce compliance, and protect every learner in every school.
Regards
Nazley Sharif MP
DA Spokesperson on Basic Education