Isaac Luthuli, media liaison officer for KZN MEC for Education, Ms Neliswa Peggy Nkonyeni has commented about the death of a Botha’s Hill school boy allegedly at the hands of a teacher.
He said that the teacher had not been fired but had disappeared from the school and the area before any charges could be laid against her.
“We condemn her behaviour, there is no space for corporal punishment in our schools and it is against the law. Anyone found guilty of corporal punishment should face the music,” said Luthuli.
He said the department had sent a written statement to the Council of SA Educators to block the teacher from gaining any employment within the education department.
“She has in effect been blacklisted, even if she went to another school or province she can not be employed by the education department.”
Regarding the food parcel and R5000 payment to the deceased boy’s family he said this was not as compensation for the loss of their child but a gesture of Ubuntu.
“The guiding spirit of Ubuntu says when someone loses a family member or friend you pay a visit to the family and bring with you a gift of whatever you can afford, whether it is a packet of oranges or R5.
The money was not a substitute for the child, no money can replace a soul even if you gave a trillion rand. There is no possible way that you can replace a person through monetary gain. The gift was given in the spirit of Ubuntu, ” said Luthuli.
