Janine Orderson made headlines with her obscene behaviour and cucumber-sucking antics as a contestant on the reality television programme Big Brother.
Speaking after her eviction last month, Janine Orderson said she would like to return to the classroom. But her antics have provoked an outcry from Minister of Education Kader Asmal, Western Cape MEC for Education Helen Zille and the South African Council for Educators (SACE).
Orderson, a mother-of-two, taught at Montagu Drive Primary in Cape Town before taking leave to participate in Big Brother.
While on the show, Orderson sucked a cucumber, simulated sex acts, nibbled fellow contestant Irvan’s toes and got up to more mischief with him under the sheets. She paraded in a G-string and openly spoke of her obsession with Irvan. Western Cape education spokesperson Paddy Attwell said the department was “unhappy with aspects of her behaviour”, and an investigation into her conduct was under way.
Rej Brijraj, chief executive officer of SACE, said Orderson might have brought the profession into disrepute and that there was a “real possibiity” that she could lose her job. “As an extreme measure, the council could order her de-registration, which in effect would mean she would not be able to teach anywhere in the country,” he said.
– The Teacher/M&G Media, Johannesburg, November 2001.