A video has emerged of the acting principal of Crystal Park High School smacking learners with a stick.
The video was allegedly taken on March 12 at the school.
The acting principal, Barrel Mabhayo, admitted to hitting the children as punishment for being outside class during school hours.
Mabhayo said the children were outside the school gate on a field that is occasionally used by the school for sporting activities.
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“When the field is used for sports or creative arts activities, teachers have to request permission to open the gate and they have to supervise the learners,” said Mabhayo.
“This field is very dangerous for learners to be there without supervision as there are males who smoke dagga there, and I fear what will happen to the female learners when they are there without a teacher’s supervision.”
The acting principal said that while he was patrolling the school he noticed the gate was open and about 40 learners were on the field without supervision.
“Some of the learners fled when they saw me and others explained why they were outside. Those who were bunking class got punished,” he said.
Mabhayo said he is sceptical about unsupervised learners on the field because in 2016 a learner was injured and the school had to answer to the parents.
“I was very emotional that the learners were outside of class for two hours and some of the learners were matriculants,” Mabhayo said.
“I acted out of frustration.
“I am very sorry that such a thing has happened and it will never happen again.
“Corporal punishment is not right and it is not something that the school encourages.”
Mabhayo said he contacted the parents and also gave learners letters to give to them to attend the disciplinary hearing.
“However, only two parents came and I’m still waiting for the rest,” he said
None of the learners were suspended.
The Department of Education was contacted for comment but none was received by the time of publishing.
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