Three Western Cape teachers received final written warnings and fines over social media activity outside working hours.
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) confirmed that the teachers were formally charged. The charges involved activity on TikTok, Facebook and WhatsApp statuses.
“They received final written warnings and fines, as sanctions,” WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said.
The department did not share what the posts said. It also did not say when the incidents took place.
Hammond said Western Cape Government employees, including teachers, must follow social media conduct rules. She said these rules apply even when staff use their personal accounts.
“Importantly, this does not mean that every aspect of an educator’s private life is subject to disciplinary action,” Hammond said.
Conduct outside working hours does not always count as misconduct, The South African reported. It depends on the circumstances and how the conduct links to the employee’s job or professional duties.
Hammond said employees keep their constitutional right to freedom of expression. She said they must still use good judgement and avoid bringing their employer into disrepute.
She also said the WCED had not been formally briefed by the South African Council for Educators (SACE) on its position on off-duty misconduct.
SACE has tried to explain the difference between lawful private behaviour and conduct that could lead to discipline. SACE communications and stakeholder manager Risuna Nkuna said teachers are free to attend parties and visit taverns and nightclubs. Nkuna said they may also drink alcohol and share personal photos online.
“Attending social gatherings, visiting taverns or nightclubs, and consuming alcohol during personal time are not, in themselves, prohibited by the Code of Professional Ethics,” Nkuna said.
Nkuna said some behaviour could still be investigated. This includes violence, harassment, criminal activity and cyberbullying.
“Each and every case is dealt on its own merits; there is no one size fits all type of an approach in these cases,” Nkuna said.
The cases raised concerns among educators about what is expected of them outside the classroom. One educator said teachers often spend afternoons giving online lessons. The educator said weekends are taken up with planning and marking.
Educators’ Union of South Africa (EUSA) spokesperson Andre de Bruin criticised attempts to regulate teachers’ lawful behaviour outside working hours.
“Neither SACE nor any individual or organisation has the right to dictate how teachers conduct themselves in their private time, provided their actions remain within the confines of the law,” De Bruin said.
De Bruin also said parents should not be excused from their duties as the main role models for their children.
“Parents are the primary educators and role models of their children, and parental responsibility does not end when the school day begins,” he said.
SACE said educators keep their constitutional rights. It said lawful private activities are not automatically grounds for disciplinary action.
The WCED said disciplinary matters must be considered one by one, under the labour laws and procedures that apply.
Source: this article is based on reporting by The South African. Image: The South African. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Entertainment desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Rirhandzu Baloyi writes about entertainment for Tzaneen Voice. Rirhandzu covers South African music, film, TV, streaming, awards and celebrity news, from amapiano and local soapies to Showmax and Netflix releases. Stories stick to what happened, who was involved and when fans can watch or listen.