WATCH: Preschool in Bronkhorstspruit closes after cops arrest owner

Gates to the Little Royals pre-primary and nursery daycare are closed and the sounds of little children coming from the playground are no more.

This school in Cultura Park in Bronkhorstspruit is not operating since the owner and principal, Elsa Geyser, was arrested on November 14 in connection with alleged assault of learners in her care.

She appeared in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court on November 16. Geyser is facing a charge of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, as well as a charge of common assault.

These charges followed after publication of two videos circulating on social media and of which Streeknuus has copies. The videos were taken by a staff member, who wants to remain anonymous, and sent to the children’s parents.

One of the videos, recorded from within a building, shows two toddlers at an outdoor jungle gym being spanked with a wooden plank for apparently taking toys out of the classroom.

The whistleblower, who is known to Streeknuus, explained that one of the little boys took toys outside and was then hit twice with the wooden plank.

“The other boy wanted to go to the bathroom, but then decided to go outside. He was also spanked with the same plank,” she said.

In the other video, a little girl is repeatedly rapped over the fingers with a pencil and scolded for colouring with an orange pencil instead of a red pencil.

The child, who is sitting around a table with other learners, is then threatened that a ruler will be used to hit her over the fingers the next time. The whistleblower alleges many other incidents happened since she was appointed in September.

“I could not take it anymore and decided to record the incidents,” she said.

She also sent a report about several incidents to welfare workers.

According to the whistleblower, an autistic boy was allegedly on the receiving end on numerous occasions. The woman told Streeknuus that she had several arguments with Geyser and was fired after leaking the videos.

She is worried that she will not get employment again. The parents of the children in the videos reported Geyser to the police.

The case is now with the unit working with family violence, child protection and sexual offences on Ekangala.

Dina Bosch from the Christelike Maatskaplike Raad in Bronkhorstspruit said they contacted the relevant parents. Forms to indicate abuse were completed and sent to the Department of Social Development.

A criminal case has been opened. The mother of one of the toddlers in the video said the incident was recorded on October 31.

“I immediately fetched my son (18 months) from school,” she said.

She feels that she has failed her child.

“I did not protect him.”

She cries sporadically and cannot sleep because of what has happened to her child.

“How can someone, who is also a mother, do that? To ill-treat babies like that is inhumane,” the mother said.

She said her son does not want to be around people.

“He holds me too tight when someone tries to play with him or hold him”

Her parents now help to look after the little boy.

The Economic Freedom Fighters claim that pressure from its members contributed to the school’s closure.

Jeanette Maloka, provincial treasurer of the EFF, said the parents asked the party to intervene.

“We felt that the school cannot operate while the judicial system runs its course.

“The owner of the school was arrested on Monday, was out on bail the next day and went back to school as if nothing happened.

“We said no!

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“She cannot be around children with that kind of anger that she has,” said Maloka.

According to Maloka, the EFF is monitoring the situation and none of the learners has returned to school.

Streeknuus also approached Geyser for comment.

She declined, stating that not speaking to anyone about the case is a part of her bail conditions.

She asked that her name not be published as she feared for her safety.

On legal advice, Streeknuus decided to identify Geyser based on the public interest attached to the facts.

The case has been postponed to January 3. More charges might be added as the investigation continues.