FREE STATE EDUCATION DENOUNCES ALLEGED MISCONDUCT AT HARRISMITH SCHOOL

MEC for Education, Dr Mamiki Julia Maboya

By: Staff Reporter

The Free State Department of Education, led by MEC Dr Mamiki Julia Maboya, strongly condemns the alarming and distressing allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse against Henry Madlala, a former Mathematics teacher and currently the suspended Principal of New Horizon Independent School in Harrismith, Free State.

These accusations have emerged through testimonies from former students, alumni networks, community voices, and social media.

The Department is shocked that such allegations could have remained hidden for so long, fostering an environment where learners may have felt unsafe, unheard, and unprotected.

Although the school has temporarily suspended Madlala pending investigation, this action, while necessary, is insufficient given the severity of the claims.

A suspension is merely a procedural step, not justice.

The Department reiterated that it will not allow the seriousness of these allegations to be diminished by administrative procedures or delayed action.

"New Horizon may be an independent institution, but it must be clearly stated: no independent school, governing body, or principal is above the laws of the Republic of South Africa", said MEC Maboye.

All schools, public or independent, are bound by the Children’s Act, the Sexual Offences Act, and the Education Laws Amendment Act. Every school is subject to the oversight of the Provincial Education Department, the ultimate guardian of learner safety and welfare in this province.

The Department is deeply concerned by suggestions that a predatory culture may have been an “open secret” for years, with learners possibly discouraged from reporting due to fear, institutional hierarchy, or protection of senior staff.

If proven, this would indicate not only personal misconduct but also institutional complicity, a severe betrayal of trust that undermines the moral foundation of any school claiming to educate and protect children.

MEC Maboya emphasised that sexual predators have no place in our schools. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.

"The Free State Department of Education will not tolerate any environment that shelters abusers or silences children. We are not neutral on child safety issues - we stand firmly, aggressively, and unapologetically on the side of learners,” stated Dr Maboya.

The Department reminds all institutions and schools that the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education recently reinforced a strong national stance on the mandatory reporting of statutory rape and other sexual offences in schools.

There is no discretion, no negotiation, no internal process that can override the legal obligation to report.

Anyone - educator, board member, staff member, or volunteer - who becomes aware of allegations of sexual misconduct and fails to report them to the South African Police Service is violating the law.

Silence is not a shield. It is a crime.

The Department is acting urgently, and a joint Provincial and National Education team will visit the school to conduct a thorough investigation.

This will address the allegations against Madlala, historical patterns of reported misconduct, the school’s response over the years, potential governance failures, and the extent to which learners were failed or silenced.

The Department is closely monitoring the situation and will not hesitate to escalate the matter to law enforcement and relevant child-protection agencies.

“Schools exist to shape futures, not destroy them. Any adult who uses their authority to harm a child is an enemy of society. Any institution that turns a blind eye becomes an accomplice. This Department will pursue truth, accountability, and justice - without fear or favour,” said the MEC.

The Department also commends the extraordinary courage of former learners who, even decades later, continue to seek justice for themselves and protection for the current generation.

The Free State Department of Education calls on the Board of New Horizon College to demonstrate leadership worthy of its mandate.

"Protecting children must come before protecting reputations. Action must replace silence. Accountability must replace avoidance,"