LIMPOPO – The deputy principal of Ramashobohle High School in Mankweng, who allegedly broke a Gr 12 learner’s wrist by beating her with a broomstick two weeks ago, will face an internal hearing and legal action.
This was according to Department of Education spokesperson, Dr Naledzani Rasila.
Rasila was refuting the allegation levelled by the DA that the department is not taking action against the “broomstick teacher”. He said internal investigations are underway and action will be taken depending on the outcome of the investigation conducted by the school safety and security team that was deployed to the school last week.
“The teacher will be subjected to an internal disciplinary hearing and to legal action because corporal punishment is a criminal offence,” Rasila said.
CV learnt that the 20-year-old Gr. 12 learner, Phillipine Ramonyai, was assaulted by the teacher for being late for her 06:00 study session along with her fellow learners.
DA Limpopo leader, Jacques Smalle, said they had written a letter to Education MEC, Ishmael Kgetjepe, to suspend the “broomstick teacher” who dislocated the learner’s wrist.
“The teacher, who is also the deputy principal, appeared in court earlier this month but he is still at work. Despite the incident the department failed to suspend the teacher or to initiate immediate disciplinary processes against him,” he said.
“Corporal punishment is a violation of children’s rights and it was abolished in September 1997. We urge the MEC to urgently establish an investigation into this incident and take action against the principal as well for failing to take action against the teacher.
“We will table a motion on this issue in the Limpopo Legislature for debate and to implement more stringent vetting mechanisms for teachers to come up with functional alternative measures in order to deal with ill discipline,” Smalle said.
