Pietermaritzburg - A teacher at Nichols Primary School in Edendale has been charged after she allegedly hit a Grade 1 pupil over the hands with a pipe.
The parent of the child, who would not be named, said the incident occurred in January this year, however, her e-mails and phone calls to the school have gone unanswered.
The parent said on January 19 this year, she received a call from her “helper” who said her child was complaining about sore hands.
“When I asked him what happened, he told me that he was hit by his teacher with a pipe,” said the parent.
She said she called the principal and sent e-mails but the teacher accused of hitting her child had not been disciplined.
She claimed earlier in the year she had seen the teacher grabbing and pulling another child into the class.
“I was appalled.”
She said she was “very angry” that her child had been treated this way and that the teacher had not been held accountable.
“Corporal punishment is against the law in South Africa.
“How is the teacher going to explain this serious offence?
“I strongly believe that the teacher needs to be reprimanded accordingly,” said the parent.
“If we as parents don’t stand up, this country will be loaded with children full of trauma and hatred. Children are the future; as South Africans we are all responsible for the future of the country and our children.”
The parent said she had opened a case against the teacher for the harm she inflicted on her child.
The school’s principal, who would not be named, said she had referred the matter to the department and was waiting for their report.
KZN Education Department spokesperson Sihle Mlotshwa said they would “certainly investigate the matter”.
“According to the South African Schools Act, corporal punishment is against the law and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms,” he said.
“We will investigate and act as informed by the outcome of our investigation.”
Pietermaritzburg police spokesperson Sergeant Mthokozisi Ngobese said a charge of violation of children’s rights against a Nichols Primary School teacher has been opened and is being investigated.
“No arrests have been made. We are still gathering all the information and investigating the case,” he said.
