Teachers beat kids into confessing
2012-05-10 17:22
Johannesburg - Two teachers accused of kicking and punching seven boys appeared in the Christiana Magistrate's Court on Thursday, North West police said.
Brigadier Thulane Ngubane said Daniel Morewa Lentshwe, 25, and Thabiso William Mbityekana, 27, were arrested on Thursday morning.
They later appeared in the Christiana Magistrate's Court and the case was postponed to May 15. They remain in custody.
"The suspects are facing charges of assault GBH [with intent to commit grievous bodily harm] and public indecency. More charges may be added under the Child Justice Act of 2011 once the investigation is completed," Ngubane said.
The two allegedly assaulted the boys, aged between 7 and 13, on May 6. They accused them of breaking into their house.
Whipping, punching and kicking naked boys
Ngubane said the boys and their guardians had made statements to the police and a medical examination would be conducted.
The arrests followed a Daily Sun report that a 30-minute video showed how the boys were beaten into confessing to theft and housebreaking.
The video pictures revealed men whipping, punching and kicking naked boys who were squirming on the ground, pleading for mercy, Daily Sun reported.
The video, which had been circulating in the province, was brought to the newspaper's attention by a resident who had seen it and who identified one of the boys.
He showed it to the boy's mother, who laid assault charges.
The 35-year-old mother told the newspaper that one of the teachers told her they had punished her son and his friends.
"Then he told me each of the parents had to pay R60 for the missing money and food," she said.
- SAPA
