18 MAY 2018

MEDIA STATEMENT: EQUAL EDUCATION TREASURER RESIGNS, COMPLAINT

SUBMITTED TO NATIONAL COUNCIL TO INVESTIGATE SEXUAL HARASSMENT
ALLEGATIONS
As a movement committed to principles of human dignity, social justice, and equality,
Equal Education (EE) is deeply distressed by the allegations of sexual harassment
levelled against the former Treasurer of Equal Education, Doron Isaacs.
Today, Friday 18 May, Doron submitted a letter to the National Council (NC) in which he
has resigned as Treasurer of EE, and as a member of the organisation. He has not
accepted any wrongdoing at this stage. He has indicated that he is prepared to submit
himself to an independent investigation.
In the past month, Doron, former General Secretary Tshepo Motsepe, and former Head
of National Organising Luyolo Mazwembe, have resigned amid allegations of sexual
harassment. This has been an incredibly difficult period for Equal Education. We know
that the trust and confidence which our supporters have placed in us, and the reputation
which we have built over 10 years of struggle, has been damaged by what has
transpired. However, we are committed to confronting these difficult times in our
movement’s history, with honesty and with integrity.
We recognise this as an important moment of reckoning with class, race and gender
power imbalances - issues that permeate our society as a whole. We care deeply about
our core mission - the struggle for access to quality education for all - and we are
determined to deal with these issues decisively.
We have acted swiftly to address every allegation that has been put before us. We have
not communicated publicly about these processes at each step of the way because it
would undermine the integrity of these processes. In addition we have acted in this way
to protect those who have come forward as our primary concern.
On 12 May 2018, the EE National Council established an independent inquiry into the
allegations regarding the former General Secretary, and the setting up of a broader
assessment process to assess EE’s handling of previous cases of sexual harassment
and related misconduct; EE’s policies and procedures in regard to sexual harassment;
and the organisational norms and culture which currently exists at EE.
On 17 May, members of EE’s management team wrote to the NC to request it to
suspend Doron, and to investigate claims of misconduct. The letter noted that
allegations of sexual harassment were circulating about the former Treasurer.
Today, 18 May, the Mail & Guardian published an article reporting that several women
have spoken out of having been sexually harassed by Doron. EE’s Senior Management
Team (SMT) submitted an additional request to the NC in which it also asked the NC to
assess the conduct of the SMT in confronting sexual harassment in the workplace after
this too was called into question in the news article.
The requests by EE management for an investigation into allegations regarding the
former Treasurer will be considered as a matter of urgency by the NC.
We remain resolute in our commitment to investigate every allegation of sexual
harassment brought against members, staff or leadership of EE. We are committed to
taking the necessary steps to enable an independent, safe and respectful process that
will allow women to come forward with allegations without fear and with requisite
anonymity. All those who wish to come forward will, in addition, be offered the necessary
support and professional counselling services.
We want to acknowledge the courage of those who have already come forward, and
reiterate our call for anyone with information relevant to the work of the panel to make a
submission:
Mercia Andrews (Chairperson): mercia.eeinquiry@gmail.com
Madoda Cuphe: madoda.eeinquiry@gmail.com
Clare Ballard: clare.eeinquiry@gmail.com
While the mandate of the panel, which was established on 12 May, is to investigate the
allegations regarding the former General Secretary, it is empowered to refer any other
matter arising for further investigation, exploration, or attention, either as a stand-alone
matter or as part of the broader assessment process which EE is embarking on.
We reaffirm our commitment to confronting and addressing sexual harassment and other
forms of gender-based violence in our organisation, and doing so in a transparent
manner, while ensuring fair, independent, investigative processes, and that there is a
sensitive and supportive environment for those who have been mistreated to come
forward.
LEANNE JANSEN-THOMAS (EE INTERIM NATIONAL COORDINATOR) AND
NTUTHUZO NDZOMO (EE DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY)