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SowetanLive reports that it took a protest by parents to get the Department of Education in Gauteng to suspend a teacher who was filmed meting out corporal punishment to a Grade R pupil.
The incident took place at Nchuncheko Primary School in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria on Thursday last week. The teacher will face disciplinary proceedings on Monday. In a five-second video that went viral on social media, the teacher can be seen slapping the five-year-old boy at least four times on the head. The boy's great-grandmother, Jostine Seabela, said the incident has left the boy and his twin brother, who was present when it happened, traumatised. “Just after the video went viral I received a call from the teacher asking me to lie on her behalf and tell the school that I am the one who gave her permission to beat the child to save her job,” claimed Seabela. She said she refused and told the teacher to “sleep on the bed that she made for herself”. Provincial education spokesperson Steve Mabona said they remained unequivocal in their condemnation of corporal punishment, which was outlawed in 1996. “We have never hesitated to act when such matters are reported and we will continue to prioritise safety at our school at all times,” he said. Mabona confirmed that the disciplinary hearing was scheduled for Monday. He said counselling would be offered to affected pupils.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Keletso Mkhwanazi at SowetanLive
- Read too, Teacher suspended for beating Grade R pupil, at The Citizen
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page