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Teacher appointed while on parole for rape, Press Statement SA govt, 26 March 2008

Western Cape Education MEC Cameron Dugmore calls for review of appointment procedures after teacher on parole found guilty of rape

26 March 2008

Western Cape Education MEC Cameron Dugmore has called on the Public Service Commission to investigate appointment procedures for teachers and non-academic staff at schools and advise on measures to ensure that those appointed do not pose a risk to learners and teachers.
This comes after a teacher was appointed on contract at a school in Villiersdorp whilst he had been on parole for attempted rape. William Zass was found guilty of attempted rape in 2002 and sentenced to three years' imprisonment. After eight months he was released on parole.
In February 2003 he was appointed on contract at the Villiersdorp Secondary School and on 30 June 2004 he raped a colleague. This was also the very same day that his contract came to an end.
Zass applied for an extension of his contract, but when the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) subsequently learnt of his rape charge (of this separate incident), his application was denied. Last month he was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment.
Earlier this month a caretaker was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a then seven-year-old girl from the Parow East Primary School. The girl, now 10, is still suffering psychologically, according to the family. Last year the WCED also rejected a school governing body (SGB) nomination of a Laingsburg educator found guilty of statutory rape.
Despite his dismissal and subsequent court conviction the SGB nominated this educator and even asked him to start teaching before obtaining final approval, which was irregular. This morning MEC Dugmore approached the Western Cape Public Service Commission to investigate WCED appointment procedures and advise on measures to ensure that no one who poses a risk to learners or teachers can be appointed at any educational institution.
The MEC has asked the department for a full report into how the Villiersdorp teacher was appointed, and whether the school governing body or department officials knew of his earlier sentence and parole. MEC Dugmore is also awaiting a report and legal opinion on the conduct of the Parow East Primary School principal after he admitted in court proceedings that the caretaker rapist had worked at his (the principal's) home.
While testifying in court, the principal admitted that the convicted rapist had visited his house during a two-week period when he was on the run from police. He remained missing for a further two weeks before his arrest. The WCED's legal advisors are still studying the court's complete records.
Said MEC Dugmore: "We need to establish exactly how this teacher was appointed at Villiersdorp. I am very concerned at the allegation that this teacher was not even registered with the South African Council of Educators. The role of the school governing body and the department will be fully investigated.
"In addition to this investigation by the (acting) Head of Department, Ms Sindi Lingela, I have also decided to ask the Public Service Commission in the province to investigate our appointment procedures and advise on measures, which will ensure that no-one who poses a risk to the school community can be appointed.
"I am deeply disturbed at what happened at Villiersdorp Secondary School. We must ensure that such an incident will never be repeated. I have spoken to Public Service Commissioner Norman Maharaj this morning and will submit a formal request to him next week asking for the Commission to assist us."
For enquiries, contact: Gert Witbooi Cell: 082 550 3938 E-mail: gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government 26 March 2008 Charlene Smith Greenside Johannesburg 2193 South Africa Tel & fax: +27 11 646 7637 Mobile: +27 82 495 8716 Skype: CharleneLSmith *** Please be environmentally aware. Don't print emails unless essential. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Iphigeneia" group. To post to this group, send email to iphigeneia@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to iphigeneia-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/iphigeneia?hl=en-GB -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---