It is alleged that the manager also used a knife to cut the seam of her “short skirt” open in order to make it longer.
This school previously made headlines when a learner, Paballo Seane (19), died from injuries allegedly sustained during corporal punishment. Thandeka Mpakumpaku, the mother of the learner, said, “I was shocked when I received a call from my daughter’s classmates at 16:00 on November 17, telling me that she had been assaulted by the owner and that she is crying.”
A provincial police spokesperson, Brig Selvy Mohlala, confirmed that Simphiwe Naldorado Mkhatshwa (39) appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court in connection with an incident that had taken place on November 17 at Cefups Academy.
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“It is alleged that Mkhatshwa assaulted an 18-year-old female learner in front of other learners and he also used an okapi to tear her skirt. A case of assault with intent to commit grievous bodily and malicious damage to property was opened at the Nelspruit SAPS.
Mkhatshwa handed himself to the police on November 23 and he also appeared in court on that day. The case was postponed to January 17 and he is out on R500 bail.”
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Mpakumpaku said, “I could not understand why the management did not inform us. I decided to call the school office, because the learners told me that my daughter had been insulted and the seam of her skirt was cut with a knife at 09:00. I wanted to find out what the school was doing to assist her after the incident. I did not get any feedback. At 17:00, the school principal called me to explain the incident. I asked them to take her to hospital, because I felt she needed to be checked by a medical professional. My daughter later called me from the hospital crying; she sounded traumatised.
“The manager only called us days after the incident occurred and said he wanted to apologise. I do not get why it took him so long to call us since he knows what transpired.”
According to her the family just wants justice for their child. On Monday, some protesters were demonstrating outside the school and demanded justice for the learner. During an interview with Mkhatshwa, he said he was aware of the allegations that were being made against him. “I cannot comment further, because the matter is in court and it is sub judice.”
