Abusive behaviour towards teachers has come to light at Laerskool Generaal De La Rey after a learner allegedly threw urine at a female teacher on August 17.

According to South African Teachers’ Union (SAOU) head of legal services Dems Nel, the union was called to the school during the last week of August to assist its members, who say they are being subjected to escalating indiscipline, including verbal abuse and threats from learners.

Nel alleged that the verbal abuse and threats eventually escalated to an incident where urine was thrown.

He added that one learner was caught on August 24 with a dangerous weapon at school.
“Considering the extreme nature of the conduct of these learners and the alleged threats made to the teachers, the school approached the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) for assistance,” he said.

“The GDE has failed to adequately address these concerns, leaving teachers to fend for themselves. According to the teachers, one official allegedly even told them to ‘deal with it’, rather than offering the necessary support or assistance.”

Nel said the SAOU has since submitted formal grievances on behalf of its members at the school requesting the GDE to address the alleged hostile, unsafe and untenable working conditions as a matter of urgency.

“We further requested that an investigation be launched against the GDE official who allegedly made the unprofessional, unbecoming and callous remarks.”

Nel said that the union has noted with growing concern that teacher safety is becoming an increasingly pressing issue.

“This concern has also been communicated to the GDE on several occasions without success.

“The number of violent and abusive incidents towards teachers is on the rise, and the Department of Basic Education seems determined to rather blame the teachers or keep their heads in the sand.”

Department responds to video of incident

GDE MEC Lebogang Maile’s spokesperson, Onwabile Lubhelwana, confirmed the department is aware of an alleged bullying incident involving learners at the school, but did not respond to questions relating to teacher safety, or the allegations regarding comments by the official telling the teachers ‘to deal with it’, posed by the Roodepoort Record on Tuesday, September 8.

Lubhelwana referred to a video of the incident which is allegedly circulating on social media.

“While the department has not been formally presented with the video, the incident itself has been reported to the department and is receiving attention,” he said.

“The school governing body (SGB) is currently undertaking disciplinary processes in terms of the South African Schools Act, as amended.

“District officials, including the school safety official and institutional development and support officer, were at the school on Tuesday to support the SGB chairperson and the principal with the management of the suspension process and the issuing of letters to the two accused learners.

“The outcome of the disciplinary hearing will be communicated once the process has been concluded.”

Lubhelwana added that the department is not in a position to confirm the precise nature of what is depicted in the circulating video, as the video has not been formally presented to them.

“A departmental psychologist has provided psychosocial support to the affected learner and has also engaged other learners who are part of the group for debriefing and appropriate intervention.

“Psychosocial support will continue to be provided where required, including to learners affected by the incident.”

Lubhelwana said the department is also unable, based on the information currently available, to confirm previous bullying complaints at the school or whether the school had previously been flagged through school safety monitoring.

“The department maintains that bullying has no place in our schools. Schools must remain safe and conducive environments where learners can focus on teaching and learning without intimidation, harassment or violence.”

Lubhelwana concluded that the department was not aware whether a case has been opened with the police for either of the incidents.

Police to confirm status of investigation

The Record approached the police’s Johannesburg District Communications co-ordinator, Lieutenant-Colonel Mpho Tshetlane, on September 9 to confirm whether relevant cases have been registered with the police, and her reply will be added once received.

The Record also sent questions to SGB chairperson Shayelene Anderson. Her answers will be added once received.