Two nursery schoolteachers fired after baby negligence

The baby pulled a kettle, causing boiling water to spill on her, said the owner of the nursery school.

The nursery where the baby was burned. Photo: Gauteng Social Development Department/Twitter

Two nursery schoolteachers have been fired after an eight-month-old baby in their care suffered third-degree burns.

Win van Rensburg, the owner of Incredible nursery school in Rietfontein in the Moot, Pretoria, said this happened on 3 August, Rekord Moot reported.

“The baby was crawling and pulled the kettle cord, causing the boiling water to spill onto her,” said Van Rensburg.

“Although I was not present when the accident happened, the two teachers were negligent and were suspended until their hearing.”

Van Rensburg said the teachers were found guilty at a formal hearing on Tuesday and were fired.

“They also admitted and signed that they were guilty.

“It now depends on the parents if they want to open a civil case against the teachers and the school.”

The Gauteng department of social development said the baby’s family was traumatised by the accident.

“The teacher had just changed her nappy when she left both the baby and the kettle unattended,” said the department in a statement.

“That is when she pulled the kettle which burnt herself,” they said in a statement.

Social development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza said the department would assist the parents, as they planned to formally lay a civil claim against the owners of the nursery.

She said the nursery was not registered.