The Gauteng Education MEC, under Lebogang Molefe, has ordered an urgent investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct at Curtis Nkondo Specialised School. The accusation arose after an 11th-grade student reported that a teacher made an inappropriate sexual remark to her during the second semester.
The investigation was initiated following the 11th-grade student's statement that the educator made an inappropriate sexual comment towards her during the second semester at Curtis Nkondo Specialised School in Emdeni, Soweto. On Wednesday, Lebogang Molefe, the MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation in Gauteng, stated that he had instructed the GDE to immediately look into these claims.
He emphasized that the department is treating these allegations with the utmost seriousness, especially considering they concern the safety, dignity, and well-being of students, and are linked to accusations against individuals in positions of trust and authority.
Details of the initial report
According to information officially submitted by the school, on Friday, August 7, 2026, the school principal forwarded a complaint of sexual harassment involving the educator to the Johannesburg Central District Dispute Resolution Unit and requested urgent intervention. The school's report indicated that the complaint was officially brought to the director's attention on the same day.
The complaint concerned the 11th-grade student's claim that the educator made an inappropriate sexual remark to her during the second semester. The student's written account of the alleged interaction showed that she felt offended and hurt after understanding the meaning of the remark. Furthermore, a second student who claimed to have been present during this interaction provided a statement that substantially corroborated the allegation.
However, as Molefe noted, the mentioned educator denies making inappropriate remarks to the student. His written statement records this denial and contains his version of subsequent communication in the principal's office.
Broader concerns and investigation
Molefe also reported that the department has taken note of broader concerns raised by student union representatives and members of the school community, according to which other educators may be involved in separate allegations concerning students at this school. He clarified that at this stage, the department will not present claims about the number of involved educators as established fact.
The department needs to establish the exact number of complaints filed, which specific educators are named in each complaint, the nature of each allegation, when each incident was reported, and what actions were taken. The department is also concerned that complaints of misconduct may date back to 2022. These claims will become part of the investigation.
The department will review available school and district records to determine whether complaints were filed during that period, to whom they were submitted, how they were handled, and whether officials acted according to their duties. Molefe stressed that if evidence establishes that a student safety complaint was made, and an official failed to take action, attempted to cover it up, dissuaded reporting, or otherwise ignored the duty to protect students, appropriate measures will be taken.
Molefe stated that they are dealing with extremely serious allegations. He reminded that schools must be places of safety, learning, and development, and no educator or official has the right to use their position of power for sexual harassment, exploitation, intimidation, or violation of a student's rights. Similarly, no one who receives a complaint from a student has the right to 'sweep it under the rug.'
He added: 'We will establish the facts and decisively take action wherever misconduct is found.' Molefe also ordered that the investigation should not be limited only to the recently registered incident. The department must find out whether other students made similar complaints, whether these issues were raised previously with the school administration or departmental officials, and what actions followed.
The department will determine if any preventative measures are required regarding any involved staff member based on the investigation and applicable employment processes. Such measures, if justified, are intended to protect students and the integrity of the investigation and should not be construed as an admission of guilt before the completion of due procedures. The department is particularly concerned that students reporting sexual harassment or other forms of misconduct may fear intimidation, retaliation, or that they will not be believed.
He insisted that every student who comes forward should be met with dignity, sensitivity, and confidentiality. 'No student should be persecuted for reporting alleged misconduct or assisting in an investigation.'
Molefe mentioned that previously, the well-being of students at Curtis Nkondo Specialised School required departmental and psychosocial assistance. According to his data, in April 2026, a psychosocial team visited the school after the death of a 12th-grade student and conducted psychoeducational activities for the students and provided an opportunity for them to discuss their experiences. During this intervention, students expressed a need for teachers to receive similar support and noted that they sometimes felt misunderstood or rejected.
This reinforced the importance of creating an environment where students knew they could speak up, that adults would listen, and that legitimate concerns would be addressed. Molefe concluded: 'We must create a culture in every school where a child can report something unpleasant or inappropriate without fear. The first duty of adults in our schools is to protect children. We will listen to students, parents, and student unions; we will review records and hold accountable anyone found to have engaged in misconduct through a fair process.'
He called on parents, students, student unions, educators, and anyone who may possess information relevant to the allegations to cooperate with the investigation. He also asked the media, organizations, community members, and social media users to exercise extreme caution when publicly discussing the issue and to avoid publishing information that could directly or indirectly identify participating students. The department will continue to work with the school, Johannesburg Central District officials, student unions, student support structures, and, if necessary, relevant law enforcement agencies and child protection agencies to ensure the implementation of appropriate intervention measures. Molefe added: 'We will not defend the guilty nor make hasty conclusions about the allegations. Our duty is to protect students, establish the truth, and ensure accountability. Every student attending a Gauteng school must know that their dignity, safety, and right to education are non-negotiable.'
