Malema 'monkey teacher' back at work

Bloemfontein - A Free State teacher who displayed a picture of Julius Malema alongside a monkey is teaching again, despite a recommendation by the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) that he never work with children again.

The commission called on the provincial education department to intervene, but it said it was not aware he was teaching again.

Lenard MacKay lost his job at Wilgehof Primary School in Bloemfontein in 2013 after he used the k-word and displayed a picture of Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema alongside that of a monkey in his classroom. The SAHRC conducted an on-site inspection of the school following a complaint from a parent.

In October that year, the SAHRC found him guilty of racism and hate speech.

On July 1, 2015, he got a job at the Dr CF Visser Primary School. He left after the education department objected and asked the school's governing body not to employ him.

He has now started working at Trompsburg Primary School. The school confirmed he started teaching there last week, but that it was on a temporary basis.

"Part of the recommendations to the department of education after the investigation was to have him declared by the court unsuitable to work with children," SAHRC spokesperson Isaac Mangena told News24.

"The department has failed to ensure that he doesn't work with kids."

Department spokesperson Howard Ndaba said they were not aware of MacKay's new post.

"As far as we're concerned, this man was found guilty and he isn't fit to work with children. We'll definitely persuade the school governing body not to hire him," said Ndaba.

When News24 contacted MacKay, he said: "I don't have any comment."