Jimmy Roos principal in Free State accused of abuse
A disturbing video has surfaced that allegedly shows the principal of a special school in Mangaung assaulting a learner at a hostel in footage that runs for about one minute. On the footage, a man can be seen hitting the underage learner several times after waking him up from sleeping at around 22:19 on Friday 16 August 2019. The victim is a fifteen-year-old boy.
In addition to denying that he had ever hit a learner, Joubert said that a riot had taken place at the boarding facility on the night of the incident.
“They put out all the lights and broke windows. I went into the hostel, everyone was going to their rooms. I went to the first and second room and they were in their beds but then I went into the third room. When I turned my back he started singing and shouting to start the riot so I wanted to remove him because I was still waiting for the police,” said Joubert.
Joubert expressed that, although he had a broom in his hand, he only pushed a learner once. “I pulled his leg to get him out of bed and the hostel so that the riot could stop,” he added.
The man in the video can be seen twisting the 15-year-old’s leg, stepping on him and hitting him hard enough to fall backwards.
Joubert also denied the contents of a complaint communicated to Courant alleging that the principal had assaulted both pupils and workers while intoxicated. “He does this a lot and the police here already know about him because he would get drunk and then come to the hostel at night,” said the worker. Joubert has denied ever visiting the hostel while under the influence of alcohol.
After being made aware of the video, the Free State Department of Education said that the incident will be investigated.
“We will be investigating and action can only be taken after that,” said spokesperson, Howard Ndaba.
“If anything unconstitutional is happening then the law will take its course. The matter will be handed over to management who will act swiftly but I cannot tell at this stage how long the investigation will take,” he added.
Courant has established contact with the Bloemfontein police, but have not yet received comment and are obtaining same from the Dewetsdorp SAPS. This comment will be added once received.
Nomaqhawe Mtebele
