KEY POINTS
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A former teacher received life imprisonment for raping a student in his classroom, with the trial relying on forensic evidence and victim testimony facilitated by trauma-sensitive protocols.
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Advocacy groups highlight systemic risks after a study revealed over 16,000 teachers nationwide have criminal records, including violent offenses, prompting demands for a public sex offender registry.
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The case underscores gaps in school safety measures, with calls for stricter staff vetting and expanded support for survivors through institutions like Thuthuzela Care Centres.
A former Life Orientation teacher in Worcester, South Africa, Claasen Jeremy, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a Grade 8 learner inside his classroom during school hours.
Jeremy Claasen, 38, was convicted at the Worcester Regional Court after a trial that revealed he groomed the victim via social media before assaulting her in February 2020.
Acting prosecutor Cornelius Prinsloo detailed how Claasen exploited his position as a trusted mentor, luring the teenager to his classroom under the guise of charging her phone before closing the door and attacking her.
IOL reports that the victim reported the assault to friends and school authorities three days later, leading to Claasen’s arrest. She received medical and psychological support at the Worcester Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC), a facility specializing in sexual violence cases.
During the trial, the State utilized a closed-court session and an intermediary to shield the victim from secondary trauma. “The medico-legal examination confirmed sexual penetration, and her friend’s testimony as the first report was critical,” said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila.
Calls grow for public sex offender registry
Civil rights group Action Society hailed the verdict as a victory for justice but warned systemic failures persist.
Spokesperson Kaylynn Palm cited a 2025 National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB) study exposing that 16,097 South African teachers have criminal records, including violent and sexual offenses. “Parents deserve transparency. We demand the National Sexual Offenders List be made public to prevent predators from working with children,” Palm asserted. The report has intensified debates over school safety, with advocacy groups urging stricter background checks and accountability for educational institutions.
The case has against Claasen reignited scrutiny of South Africa’s education system, where under-resourced schools often struggle to vet staff. Recent data from the Department of Basic Education shows that only 40% of schools conduct criminal checks on hires, citing bureaucratic delays.
Meanwhile, the TCC network—which assisted Claasen’s victim—reported a 22% rise in minor sexual assault cases since 2023, attributing the spike to post-pandemic social fractures and economic desperation.
Claasen’s sentencing aligns with the NPA’s push to fast-track gender-based violence cases. However, activists argue more must be done. “Schools should be sanctuaries, not crime scenes. This verdict is a start, but systemic reform is non-negotiable,” said child rights NGO Molo Songololo’s director, Patric Solomons.
