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A 22-year-old pupil from Sandi Senior Secondary in Ntsundwane A/A Ngqeleni, under Nyandeni Local Municipality was badly beaten by her teacher for arriving late in class. It is alleged that the class was to commence at 06:45 but the victim arrived at 07:02. It is then that she was beaten by her teacher as a punishment for late arrival.
Reports further reveal that even when she complained about the injury on her hand, the alleged perpetrator did not stop the act. Eastern Cape MEC for Department of Education Fundile Gade has strongly condemned this act, stating that it has been 28 years since corporal punishment was phased out in schools. Gade has also called on all relevant stakeholders to refrain from using corporal punishment, affirming that those who fail to abide by the sections of the South Africans Schools Act may be at a verge of having their contracts terminated.
Eastern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Mali Mtima says the department has quickly moved to suspend the teacher while investigation is underway.
Both the South African Schools Act of 1996, section 10, and the South African Council for Educators (SACE) code of professional ethics states that no person may administer corporal punishment at a school to a learner. Failure to abide by this has drastic consequences which includes dismissal and deregistration by SACE. – said Mtima.
Mtima has also urged parents to report such offences to the police, adding that even in this case the department will take the side of the victim. The victim will also be provided with psychological counselling.
