NCape teacher 'assaults' pupil

2008-04-30 15:30

Johannesburg - A Northern Cape teacher has been suspended with pay after the alleged assault of a pupil, said the provincial education department on Wednesday.

MEC Education spokesperson Douglas Mtukwane said Trevin Oliphant, who is also the Hopetown chairman of the SA Democratic Teacher's Union, was suspended from Wednesday on full pay.

He said the department had become aware of an incident of alleged assault by Oliphant that took place two weeks ago at Oranje Diamant Primary School.

Mtukwana said they heard Oliphant apparently assaulted the child after the 13-year-old did not respond when asked what he wanted to be when he grew up.

He said it was unclear whether the child's hand was broken or not during the alleged assault.

"(Yet) corporal punishment is not allowed in South Africa now," so the department had decided to suspend him, said Mtukwana.

Sadtu investigates

The education department would be conducting its own internal inquiry into the matter and Oliphant would remain suspended until the matter had been resolved.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Mashay Gamieldien said Oliphant would appear in the Hopetown Magistrate's Court on May 8 on a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. He is currently out on bail.

Sadtu Northern Cape secretary Nkosana Dolopi said the union was in the process of conducting its own investigation into the matter before taking action.

"We are in the process as a union of gathering facts. Then we will respond to the situation correctly."

The union's regional secretary would be speaking to Oliphant. A report on the incident should be sent to the provincial office by next Wednesday.

- SAPA