Teacher lashes Pinetown boys with computer cable
The boy's father told the Highway Mail the assault happened after a classmate threw his son's bag to the front of the class, and he had gone to retrieve it.
A PINETOWN father has vowed to fight for justice after a teacher allegedly whipped his son and two other learners with a computer cable.
The father of the learner who attends Pinetown Boys’ High School spoke to the Highway Mail after the incident which occurred on 18 September and said that he will not be among those parents who sit back and do nothing.
ALSO READ: Teacher resigns over porn scandal
Hasler Gray who opened a case of assault against the teacher shared details about the incident and said, “My son and I don’t talk much when he gets home, so he did not tell about the incident. I only saw the bruises later on the day when he was taking a shower. When I asked him, he first said it was nothing. I insisted that he tells me what happen and that’s when he told me that he was beaten by a teacher.
“I was very shocked. Corporal punishment was banned a long time ago, but it still continues and that may have been a hard blow as my son was wearing a blazer, and a shirt but the two marks on his back were still very noticeable.
‘Boys will be boys’
Gray said when he asked his son why he was hit, his told him, it was during the last lesson and the teacher had stepped out.
“Boys being boys, there was a commotion. One of his classmates threw my son’s school bag in the front of the class. He went to pick it up and that is when the teacher returned. The teacher beat him and two other learners,” said Gray.
The day after the incident, Gray said he went to the school to speak to the principal, but it was a busy day as it was the exam period.
“On Wednesday (20 September), I went to Pinetown SAPS to open a criminal case against the teacher and then went to the school.
“The principal was shocked about this matter and told me that the teacher was appointed by the Department of Education not the school SGB and he will forward this complaint to them.
ALSO READ: Queensburgh pupil survives vicious bullying attack
” I am not crucifying the school, but what the teacher did was unacceptable and this matter should be dealt with accordingly.
“The cases of corporal punishment are spiralling out of control. We have seen so many videos going around of learners being beaten, this is unacceptable and it should stop,” said Gray.
Pinetown SAPS communications officer, Capt Bongumusa Manqele said a case of common assault was opened at Pinetown SAPS.
Pinetown Boys’ principal, Raysellan Naidoo said the school is aware of the matter and they have reported it to the Department of Education as the teacher was hired by the department and not the school governing body. The matter is being addressed.
According to Gray, the latest South African Council for Educators (SACE) statistics reveal that 560 cases were reported but only 52 were resolved because parents do not get involved.
Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Highway Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts
