A teacher at Lotus Gardens Secondary School has been dismissed after an arbitrator found him guilty of engaging in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student, resulting in her pregnancy.The Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) upheld the dismissal, ruling that the educator committed gross misconduct.

The arbitrator, Mmamahlola Gloria Rabyanyana, declared the teacher unsuitable to work with children and ordered his name be entered into the National Child Protection Register.The case involved allegations that the teacher, Andile Malusi Kunene, impregnated a former Grade 12 learner.

Despite the learner and her mother initially withdrawing accusations, the arbitrator found their later statements inconsistent with evidence, including WhatsApp messages and financial records showing payments from Kunene to the learner.The ruling emphasized the severity of the misconduct, noting educators must not abuse their position for personal gain.Kunene denied some payments and challenged the authenticity of evidence, but bank records corroborated transactions.

The ELRC also directed that Kunene's name be added to the South African Council for Educators' register, affecting his future teaching career.