No sanction for pupil

‘Fed up’ learner attacked teacher

A mentally challenged pupil from a school in Soweto will not be suspended due to his condition after he was filmed throwing a brick at a teacher‚ the Gauteng education department said yesterday.

In a video doing the rounds on social media‚ the teacher is seen running from a pupil at the school.

The pupil takes a brick and throws it at the teacher. A few seconds later‚ the teacher falls to the ground and the pupil runs towards him and kicks him. Taking one last look behind him‚ he bolts for it. “What a silly child that is‚” another teacher is heard saying‚ while another encourages the teacher to run. “What is your problem?” one teacher asks the clearly aggravated pupil.

“I have been patient with him for too long. Today‚ he will k*k himself‚” the pupil replies. One teacher tries to speak to him but the pupil replies: “Ma’am‚ leave me alone‚” and runs after the teacher. “Bheki‚ Bheki‚” the other teachers calls out to the pupil. “Call the cops‚ guys. Call the cops. [The teacher] cannot be chased around by a child like this‚” one person says.

“Is the principal not here?” another asks.

“He isn’t here‚” comes a reply.

“Our cars‚” says a concerned teacher.

“He should continue running‚” the teacher advises her colleague who is under attack. Other male teachers eventually get hold of the pupil. “We are reprimanding you‚” they shout at him.

“I have put up with this for too long. It is now the end. Today is the day we beat each other up‚” he replies.

“I have wanted to beat him up for so long‚” he continues. Other teachers in the background are heard saying that the pupil thinks the teacher is afraid of him. Meanwhile‚ the student cannot be calmed down. “I am tired of persevering‚ meneer. I am tired. I am also human. I also get fed up‚” he tells the group of male teachers surrounding him.

“But he is your meneer [teacher]‚” they tell him.

“I am tired of sir‚ he has treated me badly for so long‚” he tells a female teacher‚ as he is still in the grip of the other male teachers.

“I am tired of him. He can beat me up if he wants to‚” the pupil replies.

“But he did nothing to you. You are provoking him‚” the female teacher tells him. Teachers continue to discuss the incident‚ with the one supposedly recording‚ saying all that needed to happen was for them to call the cops. Departmental spokesperson, Steve Mabona, said the incident happened last Wednesday.

Mabona said the teacher sustained minor injuries from falling‚ but medical attention was arranged to assist him. “The learner is still allowed at school and‚ due to the nature of his behavioural disability‚ cannot be suspended.”