Multiple pupils laid complaints against an educator at St Patrick’s CBC in Kimberley prior to his dismissal, following allegations that he distributed pornographic material to his pupils.
MULTIPLE pupils laid complaints against an educator at St Patrick’s Christian Brothers’ College (CBC) in Kimberley prior to his dismissal, following allegations that he distributed pornographic material to his pupils.
Parents had raised concerns about the well-being of their children at the school after a high school pupil reported the incident.
The executive head of St Patrick’s CBC, Craig Neave, stated that the matter was immediately reported to the SAPS and cases were opened.
“I dismissed the individual on the strength of an internal hearing and then reported the case to the South African Council of Education, the provincial Department of Education, the Independent Schools Association and the Catholic Institute of Education. The case is now in the hands of the police and public prosecutor,” said Neave.
He stated further that unwanted attention was drawn to one pupil in a previous article, where “stress and heartache” were caused to the child and his family.
“The report is insensitive and has had far-reaching negative implications on the alleged victims who are still minors.”
Neave added that there was no link between the fraud case dating back to 2021, relating to missing school funds, and the sexual harassment case.
“The fraud case was reported to the Hawks for investigation, whose job it is to investigate and prosecute. We contact them regularly to check for progress and we have in fact opened civil cases against individuals who we believed to have acted fraudulently. To imply in your article that ‘nothing has been done’ is blatantly incorrect.
“It is frustrating when things drag on and nothing seems to be happening, but that is not our fault.”
