Vape search lands Stanger Manor teacher in cuffs

A teacher has been charged with sexual assault following a pupil search incident, but the case was not enrolled in court due to insufficient grounds.

The female teacher at Stanger Manor Secondary School was last month charged with common assault (‘Assault case opened after school vape search‘, Courier, March 13) after allegedly mishandling a male pupil during a vape search.

“I can confirm a woman was arrested by the iLembe District Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit on Monday, March 30. The suspect was charged with sexual assault,” said Saps iLembe district spokesperson Priya Nunkumar.

The teacher appeared in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, March 31, but the matter was not enrolled as the search did not amount to sexual assault.

According to the pupil’s handwritten account, seen by the Courier, the teacher allegedly grabbed him by the arm and pushed him against a board when he asked her to stop searching him.

The teacher’s handwritten account, also seen by the Courier, makes no mention of the alleged grabbing. She states she asked a male security officer to assist in searching pupils accused by classmates of vaping.

In her version, tensions had escalated between two groups of pupils – the group accused of vaping wanted to fight with the group that reported them – and she attempted to de-escalate the situation.

Under the South African Schools Act, searches are permitted only where there is reasonable suspicion and must be conducted respectfully, by someone of the same gender, in private and in the presence of another person. The South African Council for Educators prohibits physical punishment, and improper contact may constitute assault.

A female pupil has since also accused the teacher of common assault.

Mutual protection orders have been obtained by the teacher and the pupils’ parents, with warrants of arrest issued for alleged contraventions.

The school and the education department had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.