Learner accosted her for confiscating his phone

A grade 12 teacher in Limpopo is traumatised after an 18-year-old pupil accosted her for confiscating his cellphone‚ according to education authorities.

“The Limpopo department of education has learnt with shock and disappointment the humiliation suffered by an educator‚” said spokesman Sam Makondo.

The teacher was assaulted and water was poured on her face and body.

Makondo said an investigation into the circumstances around the incident is currently underway‚ adding that possessing a cellphone in class was against school rules.

The boy allegedly fled the scene after other teachers intervened to help their colleague.

Police were called and the boy was later arrested.

“The incident has left the educator traumatised‚” said Makondo.

“Counselling has been arranged for her and all affected by the incident.”

Education MEC Ishmael Kgetjepe condemned the incident.

“This kind of ill-discipline and criminality cannot be tolerated. Nobody in their right frame of mind does that to another human being‚ let alone an educator who is there to guide learners on the right path to academic prosperity and a brighter future‚” Kgetjepe said.

He added that schools needed to be places where discipline reigned supreme and teachers were given the utmost respect.

“We cannot tolerate ill-disciplined learners in our schools who have no regard for the dignity of educators who are there to nurture them into responsible citizens.”

The pupil was expected to appear in the Bolobedu magistrate’s court on Thursday.

Despite the MEC’s utterances, the country has been inundated with shocking incidents of violence at school. Teachers and other pupils have been on the receiving end of aggressive learners.

In worst cases recently, a pupil stabbed to death a teacher in class in Zeerust, North West‚ while a 15-year-old pupil pointed a gun at his teacher in Eldorado Park.