Tania Wessels a 29-year-old former teacher from Mondale High School in Mitchells Plain, who was fired after assertions were made that she was teaching the children about Satanism has spoken up against the claims.
The Educator said, the misunderstanding was a result of her “weird sense of humor”, she says she was actually teaching about the bible.
Wessels appeared in 2 videos that went viral on Facebook, in the first video one learner asked if she had been raped and she replies, “yes but that was a long time ago”. In the second video she is addressing learners she says, “Praise the Lord. I smoke, I drink and I still praise my God, is that a problem?”, and “Excuse me, I don’t perform rituals out of the air.” Both videos were made by learners in class.
Another student shared a WhatsApp voice note in which he said Wessels said she had been raped by her father, was married to God and has tombs at her house.
In her defense she said “The video where the girl asks if I was raped I said yes because everyone was coming into my class and I just didn’t like the gossip. I have never been raped by my dad.” Furthermore, she denied teaching Satanism stating she was teaching from the Bible and Egyptian history.
Bronagh Hammond, WCED spokesperson, confirmed that Wessels had been removed from her post. He said the school had hired her on a contractual basis as a Life Orientation teacher.
Learners complained after the first day of lessons, stating that her lessons were not part of the curriculum.