The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) will hold a training workshop for school principals from special needs schools to focus particularly on the recent legislative amendments regarding sexual offences – Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and related Matters) Amendment Act of 2021 which came into operation on 31 July 2022.

This legislation has, among others, amended the National Register of Sex Offenders by broadening its scope to not only protect children and mentally disabled persons but all vulnerable groups. It extends the list of persons who are entitled to submit applications to the Registrar of the National Register of Sex Offenders and further regulates the reporting duty of persons who are aware that sexual offences have been committed against persons who are vulnerable.

This training will take place a week after the South African Council for Educators (SACE) presented its  2022/23 Annual Report before the Parliamentary Education Portfolio Committee on 18 October. The Report stated that SACE received 734 profession misconduct allegations against educators. Of these, 163 were related to sexual harassment of a learner (failure to report rape, rape of a learner, impregnating of a learner). One hundred principals from all nine provinces are expected to attend this training which is in line with the Union’s 2030 Vision that is pillared on creating a learning nation and servicing union members.

This workshop is targeting principals because they are the main drivers of change in schools so that they can steer their schools in the right direction. It is envisioned that they will not only use the information for their schools only but will cascade it to others through Professional Learning Communities. The training session will also include presentations on mental health and other communicable diseases as well as leadership.

DATE: 24 – 26 October 2023
TIME: 8:30am on Day 1
VENUE: Birchwood Conference Centre, Boksburg