An Alex family is contemplating steps to take against a pre-school in Kew where their five-year-old child was injured on 22 January.
The Setlapelo family is accusing the school and principal of neglect. This after a part of the child’s injured finger on the right hand was amputated on 28 January at Brenthurst Hospital. Explaining to this reporter, the child said her finger got stuck in playground equipment while unsupervised with others. She is nursing the wound at home and the family is contemplating transferring her to another school.
Her maternal and paternal grandparents expressed disappointment with particularly the principal saying has not phoned or come to check on the child. “Only one teacher called on her own accord and was sent with a report we requested from the school. “We can’t risk taking the child back for fear of her being ill-treated due to our complaints,” Elsie Sehlapelo, maternal granny said adding that the incident also forced the child’s mother to go on unpaid leave to nurse her while the principal’s income is uninterrupted.”
Paternal granny Mary Maloba who was livid accused the principal of showing no care or remorse and added that they will approach the department of education for advice. “The child who is right handed will have to adjust to using the hand without part of a finger. She was concerned about additional expenses they will incur on trauma counselling and the child’s physiotherapy. She ruled out taking her back to the school where she alleged she was once beaten by a teacher who the principal allegedly protected against any disciplinary action. They reported the matter to the City’s social department which promised to send social workers to help them.
The principal Mpumi Shabangu expressed concern on the claims she said are false. “They are not spread by the mother of the child who knows the quality of our services.”
Shabangu added that her work was a calling and not a business. “We started the crèche in 1996, are not a fly-by-night and comply with regulations of the department of education.”
She added, “The child was groomed by the school and it’s amazing that other people other than the parent are now involved, threatening us and tarnishing the school’s image.”
She advised the family’s to transfer the child if they wish and has documentary evidence on the sequence of events from when the child was injured.
Related article:
https://northeasterntribune.co.za/226032/local-girls-school-on-sky-is-the-limit/
