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News24 reports that the North West education department has placed a principal on special leave "pending precautionary suspension" following a complaint against him of having allegedly hit a pupil with a stick.
In a video of the incident, Daniel Makhado, the principal of Kgononyane Secondary School in Vryburg, is seen firmly holding the pupil down around the neck with his left hand while using his right hand to seemingly hit him with the stick. He is heard telling the 14-year-old Grade 8 pupil in Setswana that he was "messing up the school". The boy was apparently playing games on his cellphone in class during a social sciences lesson, and the teacher then took him to the principal's office to complain about his behaviour. "We are deeply disappointed in the principal's conduct as corporal punishment is not allowed at school," said Lesego Sione, the chairperson of the school governing body. Corporal punishment was abolished in 1996, and the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act now provides for the prohibition of the practice not only at schools but also during school activities and at hostels. President Cyril Ramaphosa officially signed all sections of the act into law in December. A parent, who did not want to be identified, alleged it was not the first time Makhado had administered corporal punishment at the school.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Prega Govender at News24 (subscription or trial registration required)
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