Eastern Cape teacher accused of beating learner with a hosepipe
The learner's mother, who asked that we not name her or her son, told GroundUp that her child returned from school with dark bruises on his buttocks on 19 May.
According to the learner, on the day of the incident, he and three other learners were washing their dishes after lunch, after the bell had rung for them to return to classes. He said a male teacher approached them and instructed them to follow him to the staff room to 'punish them' for being late to class.
'He took the hosepipe and hit my classmate three times on his hand. The second classmate was beaten three times on the bum. The third classmate was also beaten on bums seven times,' said the learner. 'I stopped counting at eight while he was beating me. I started feeling numb, I didn't cry anymore,' he said.
The learner said he returned to class and was in pain for the rest of the day. 'I wanted to go home but I didn't want to get in trouble again. The pain was unbearable, I was crying but trying to be strong at the same time,' he said.
His mother said she went to the school to report the matter, but she was snubbed by the other teachers. She then decided to open a case at the police station. The teacher has since apologised.
'To be honest I now feel sorry for him, I don't want him to lose his job,' said the mother.
When GroundUp contacted the school for comment, we were told by the person who answered the call that the teacher had resigned.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said the teacher faces charges relating to corporal punishment at the Maluti Magistrates Court. His next court appearance will be on 25 June.
Eastern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Vuyiseka Mboxela warned that corporal punishment is against the Constitution and the department's policies. She said she had asked the school for more details.
Equal Education Law Centre Attorney Ebrahiem Daniels said though it is illegal, corporal punishment continues in schools. He said the organisation gets reports of corporal punishment from across the country.
Daniels said there is a lack of training and support for teachers about other forms of discipline. 'Without the tools to manage classrooms constructively, some teachers continue to resort to physical punishment. Research consistently shows that corporal punishment is not only ineffective but also harmful.
'It is linked to increased aggression, anti-social behaviour, and long-term emotional harm. Rather than correcting behaviour, it reinforces the idea that violence is an acceptable way to solve problems,' said Daniels.
This article first appeared on GroundUp. Read the original article here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
11 hours ago
- The Citizen
Westonaria primary school under fire over corporal punishment allegations
A parent has come forward with disturbing claims that her three children were subjected to corporal punishment at Laerskool Venterpos Primary in Westonaria – including being beaten with a cricket bat and PVC pipes – prompting the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) to launch a formal investigation. Randfontein Herald reports that according to the parent, her son returned home at around 09:00 one morning, having walked home from school after he was beaten on the hands with a cricket bat. He told her his fingers were broken. Mother claims she was threatened by principal Shocked by this, she immediately returned to the school and informed the principal that she intended to open a case. The parent alleges she was then thrown out of the school and further claims the principal threatened to expel her two other children, who are still enrolled there. 'As a parent, I am not allowed to hit my children, so who gives a teacher the right to do so?' she questioned. Repeated incidents despite previous complaint The parent stated this was not the first incident. When she first became aware of corporal punishment at the school, she approached the principal, who reportedly called in five teachers. The parent said all five admitted to the punishment and promised to stop – but the abuse allegedly continued. Investigation is under way In response to these allegations, GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona confirmed that an investigation into the alleged use of corporal punishment is currently underway. 'We take the safety of all our learners very seriously, and as such, necessary disciplinary action will be taken accordingly, pending the outcome of the investigations. 'We condemn any form of assault on learners in schools, as corporal punishment is outlawed by the Constitution and the South African Schools Act [84 of 1996].' Support team dispatched to school Mabona explained that such cases are referred to the department's labour relations unit for thorough investigation, counselling and consequence management. 'Furthermore, we appeal to our educators to refrain from all types of misconduct and focus on learning and teaching. Educators should lead by example to ensure that learners mirror their conduct in creating a safe school environment, conducive to effective learning and teaching.' The department has also dispatched its psycho-social support team to the school to provide the necessary support. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
IOL News
13 hours ago
- IOL News
86-year-old 'sex pest' teacher loses bid to dismiss case
Ian Wares, left, and his lawyer, Ben Mathewson, at the Wynberg court. Wares, who is wanted by UK authorities for 76 counts of sexual assault of young boys, has lost an application to have a Cape Town case discharged. Image: Genevieve Serra Former SA teacher, Iain Wares, who is wanted by UK authorities for 76 counts of sexual assault of young boys, has lost an application to have a Cape Town case discharged. Wares, 86, who walks using a walking stick, heard that his Section 174 discharge application was unsuccessful in the Wynberg Regional Court on Thursday. Magistrate Vanessa Miki said the State had enough evidence to proceed with the matter. She said that while looking at the evidence, it didn't warrant for the case to be rejected and therefore dismissed and refused the application. The application was brought by Ben Mathewson, Wares' lawyer, arguing that the State didn't have enough evidence to bring a prosecution and that the testimonies of two witnesses, that of the victim, lacked credibility. The local case involves a male victim who came forward after nearly four decades. Wares has since pleaded not guilty to the charge of indecent assault. With his legal team, he is also appealing his extradition to Scotland where he is supposed to stand for his alleged crimes abroad, arguing for the Extradition Act to be declared inconsistent with the Constitution. The responding parties brought their written and answering submissions and their notice to oppose the application earlier this year. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The local case involves a victim dubbed 'Stephen', who took the witness stand last year where he told of the indecent assault Wares allegedly inflicted on him. The 47-year-old victim broke his silence claiming he was abused by Wares who was his teacher at Rondebosch Boys' Preparatory during 1988. Wares is accused of indecently assaulting the male victim by touching his buttocks and penis and rubbing his penis up against the victim. The victim's wife took the stand as the State closed its case, in which she revealed how her husband broke his silence after seeing Wares on television. During her testimony, the woman, who cannot be identified, told the court that while they watched an episode of Carte Blanche in 2022, her husband revealed that it was his teacher who had abused him and did so by pointing to Wares who was on television.
IOL News
17 hours ago
- IOL News
Wrongfully imprisoned man to receive R750 000 compensation
A man who was due to be released from prison as the court had overturned his conviction and sentence, sat for 77 days longer as the officials simply did not get around to securing to his release. Image: FILE A man who served nearly eight years in jail for a crime he did not commit, and a further 77 days when he was eventually cleared on appeal after the departments of Justice and Correctional Services did not get around to order his release, will receive R750 000 in damages. The Mpumalanga High Court, sitting in Mbombela, found that Wonder Nkambule was arbitrarily deprived of his freedom and should be compensated. Nkambule had been sentenced to life imprisonment in November 2013. The judgment and sentence were subsequently successfully appealed against in December 2021. An order for the immediate release of the plaintiff was given on the same day. But the order for the liberation of Nkambule was not timeously transmitted to the personnel of Correctional Services, as it should have been. As a result of this failure, he was only released from his detention in March 2022. The court noted that detention is, in and by itself, unlawful. The onus rests on the detaining officer to justify it. The Constitutional Court on numerous occasions remarked that the Constitution guarantees that everyone has the right to freedom and security of the person, which includes the right not to be deprived of freedom arbitrarily or without just cause. It was argued on behalf of the Department of Correctional Services that the delay in releasing the plaintiff was occasioned by personnel in the Department of Justice. This argument becomes academic when one considers that the departments fall under the same ministry, the court remarked. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ It said a finding that the delay was occasioned by the Department of Justice will render the same minister for Correctional Services liable to compensate the plaintiff. The court, however, found that on the facts before it, the delay was occasioned by the Department of Justice in delaying to timeously remit the warrant of liberation to the Department of Correctional Services. The court said in its view, this is a matter wherein it has to make a sound estimate of an amount which seems to be fair and reasonable. In doing so, it was considered that Nkambule was detained for 77 days after the Supreme Court of Appeal had cleared all the charges and subsequent life sentence earlier meted out against him. The court was satisfied that the plaintiff successfully proved, on a balance of probabilities, that his detention was unlawful. In the assessment of damages for unlawful arrest and detention, it is important to bear in mind that the primary purpose is not to enrich the aggrieved party, but to offer him or her some much-needed solatium for his or her injured feelings. 'It is therefore crucial that serious attempts be made to ensure that the damages awarded are commensurate with the injury inflicted. However, our courts should be astute to ensure that the awards they make for such infractions reflect the importance of the right to personal liberty and the seriousness with which any arbitrary deprivation of personal liberty is viewed in our law,' the court said.
