Gauteng education MEC to address Crystal Park High corporal punishment incident
The DA have urged the MEC to act against corporal punishment.
DA Gauteng shadow MEC for education Khume Ramulifho with DA constituency head for Benoni Michele Clarke during an oversight visit at Crystal Park High School on March 19.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has submitted questions to Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi after they conducted an oversight visit at Crystal Park High School in Benoni, Benoni City Times reports.
The visit was conducted on March 19. The Benoni City Times reported on a video which surfaced earlier this year, showing the acting principal, Barrel Mabhayo, hitting learners with a stick.
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The video was allegedly taken on March 12 at the school.
Mabhayo admitted to hitting the children as punishment for being outside class during schooling hours.
The DA asked the MEC to explain the steps taken to investigate the matter.
Lesufi said the department has conducted a preliminary investigation upon receiving allegations of corporal punishment at the school.
“The findings revealed that the principal had hit four learners for not being in class during schooling hours,” said Lesufi.
“The preliminary report has also indicated that there are no other staff members involved in these allegations.”
Furthermore, the principal has also been afforded an opportunity to respond to the allegations against him, said the MEC.
Lesufi said the department is pursuing disciplinary processes against the principal and the findings will be revealed at the disciplinary hearing.
According to the Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson, Steve Mabona, Mabhayo is still acting, as the appointment of a permanent principal has not yet been concluded.
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