News24 reports that the Education Labour Relations Council has upheld a decision by the Western Cape Education Department to fire a teacher who severely assaulted her colleague, leaving her injured and semi-conscious.

The victim's three-year-old child witnessed the attack. The teacher, Lulama Gagela, who has a history of violence, took the matter to the council, claiming the dismissal had been unfair. However, the council arbitrator, Arthi Singh-Bhoopchand, said the department had dismissed Gagela to protect the school's best interests and the learning environment. "It is evident that this is not the first time that the applicant [Gagela] has transgressed. It is unlikely that training and instruction will result in her not repeating the misconduct. The misconduct is in any event too serious given that it impacts on the safety of fellow educators," said Singh-Bhoopchand. Gagela and her colleague, identified only as Ms Sonkqayi, worked at Khayelitsha Special School – a facility for children with special education needs. Gagela, a traditional healer, is a qualified sangoma and Sonkqayi was an initiate under Gagela's tutelage. Gagela was found to have severely assaulted Sonkqayi, who had to have multiple surgeries and was out of work for six weeks.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tshepiso Motloung at News24

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