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	Methodist Church Teacher Has Been Accused of Sexual Abuse before By Micel Schnehage Eyewitness News September 15, 2009 http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za/articleprog.aspx?id=21956 Child advocacy groups have welcomed the suspension of a Central Methodist Church teacher amid allegations of sexual abuse. The suspension came after Eyewitness News exposed claims that young girls were being sexually abused in exchange for toiletries, clothes and food. A number of young boys also recounted how they were forced by adults to commit crime. It has since emerged the teacher was also accused of sexual misconduct last year but the case was thrown out of court. The Methodist Church of Southern Africa's presiding bishop, Ivan Abrahams, has welcomed an investigation into the latest claims. "We would welcome an independent investigation. The National Prosecuting Authority is [aware of] this matter at the moment and we've gone to one of the national directors of the Department of Social Development but we've had little cooperation from them," Abrahams said. Bishop Paul Verryn, who is in charge of the Johannesburg church, maintains that girls staying there have been told that solicitation would not be tolerated, adding they have also been told to speak up if they were inappropriately touched. Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance has urged government to intervene in the crisis at the Central Methodist Church. The party's Jack Bloom said urgent intervention was necessary. "I think that all three levels of government need to do something. Local government, provincial government and national government. Certainly the Social Services Department and the Gauteng Provincial Government should step in," remarked Bloom.
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