Forest Heights teacher found guilty of misconduct and sexual abuse

A Western Cape teacher has been dismissed after an ELRC arbitration ruling found him guilty of sexual assault and misconduct involving a Grade 12 learner, with earlier complaints also noted in the findings. A Forest Heights Secondary School teacher has been axed after an arbitration ruling found him guilty of misconduct for sexually abusing a Grade 12 learner,with the case raising concerns about how earlier complaints were handled. with the case raising concerns about how earlier complaints were handled.

According to the arbitration award, issued by theEducation Labour Relations Council, the incidents took place at theEersteriver schoolin thethird or fourth term of 2025, when he allegedly sexually abused the learner by touching her buttocks and /or waist. third or fourth term of 2025, when he allegedly sexually abused the learner by touching her buttocks and /or waist. In a second charge, Cornwell Joseph was accused of inappropriate comments, including telling her “your body is beautiful” and asking for her number to discuss a “relationship”.

However, arbitratorArthi Singh-Bhoopchandfound the learner’s evidence to be “clear, consistent and steadfast”. “She testified that she was on her way to class one Monday morning after break. “She was limping at the time as she had sustained an injury to her foot.

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“Given that she walked much slower than the rest of the crowd, she did not want to hold up the movement of the learners, so she walked aside close to the wall to allow learners to pass freely. “Mr Joseph came up behind her, and while making as if he was moving her out of the way to pass, he touched her buttocks. She did not report the incident because she was shocked and she was trying to process what had happened,” read the arbitration award.

“She also testified about incidents where Mr Joseph made inappropriate comments. He made such comments often.

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