The Gauteng MEC of Education, Panyaza Lesufi says in 2017 the Gauteng Department of Education received 175 complaints of physical assault of pupils by teachers.
He says that 118 of these cases have ended in guilty verdicts.
In addition the department has seen 43 complaints of sexual abuse by teachers, resulted in 19 guilty verdicts.
Speaking on Morning Live, Lesufi says teachers and learners need to be protected, “Every learner must feel safe, protected and given the necessary education that will make them to survive.”
He also touched on teachers who are attacked by learners, “We need to protect educators but within the parameters of the law. We have to ensure that those learners that are violent, we provide the relevant relief that they need.”
Click the video for full interview:
![[File image]: A nurse dressed in personal protective equipment takes down medical in a hospital.](https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/nurses-768x555-1-120x86.jpg)
