Pupil ‘traumatised’ after altercation with teacher

The family of the Sans Souci Girls’ High School pupil who was allegedly assaulted by her teacher earlier in February says life has been hard since the incident, with the 16-year-old girl having sleepless nights due to the trauma she experienced.

The mother of the grade 9 pupil from Gugulethu‚ who cannot be named to protect the minor’s identity, said not only did her daughter have to deal with the stress of not going to school for almost a month‚ but with threats allegedly made by fellow pupils.

School friends of the girl – who was suspended early in February after the incident – allegedly “threatened to harm her should she go back to the school”‚ her mom said.

The girl, speaking with the permission of her mother‚ said February had been a “scary time for me and my friends due to threats that I’ve been getting and not going to school”.

“It’s a very scary situation. School is supposed to be a safe space for kids to go. It’s where you spend most of your time‚ and your teacher is supposed to be like your mother.

“I was very hurt with what has happened,” she said.

Both the teacher‚ Clarissa Venter‚ 34‚ and the pupil appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court to face separate charges of assault they opened against each other.

The girl‚ who appeared incamera, is due back in court on April 1 while the case against the teacher is set down for April 18.

The two were also set to appear before the school’s disciplinary committee this week following the altercation‚ which was caught on camera and went viral.

Speaking outside the court‚ the girl’s mother said the entire family had been affected.

“Just this week I’ve got to be off work for several days to appear in court‚ to support her when she appears before the school’s disciplinary committee on Friday‚ and she has a session with a psychologist‚ which I have to take her to.”

The mother said she had decided to lay a complaint against the teacher after she witnessed “the brutal nature of the video”.

“I’m not saying when my child is wrong she should not be reprimanded.

“I’m saying‚ ‘treat my child like she is yours.’

She is under your [the teacher’s] protection when she is at school. So treat her fairly and treat her right.

“Likewise, I expect my child to treat teachers with the utmost respect that she gives me as a parent.”