Teacher who watched bullying a serial offender

JOHANNESBURG : The teacher who watched and did not intervene when a pupil attacked his classmate at a Vaal school has a pending assault case against him and was once suspended on a similar charge.

The alleged assault, which was captured on video, occurred at a school for pupils with special needs.

The clip that went viral shows the teacher marking scripts while a bully brutally slapped, punched and kneed another pupil.

The male teacher was yesterday served with a charge sheet and informed to appear at a Gauteng Department of Education disciplinary hearing for allegedly throwing a plank at a pupil last month.

Last year, the same teacher was found guilty of assaulting another pupil at the school. He was suspended, given a final warning and a R6 000 fine.

The teacher was also served with a letter yesterday asking him to state within five days reasons why he should not be charged.

Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi, who visited the school, said he was disappointed in the teacher’s conduct.

“Teachers are our first line of defence. After seeing the video, I felt the teacher had not conducted himself in a professional manner.

“I want the district to deal with this matter quickly, so that we can see if we are right, that this teacher is not in the right profession. His conduct in the video shows that this teacher needs assistance. I feel hurt, disgusted and embarrassed about the whole thing.”

Lesufi had a meeting with the alleged bully, the victim, their parents and the school management team.

He said the bully had apologised to the victim, who did not respond.

“The family of the perpetrator is very sorry and embarrassed by their child. They accept their child is horribly wrong and does not enjoy their support in the matter.”

Lesufi added that he had wanted the bully to be suspended until an investigation into the matter was complete.

“The perpetrator apologised and said he had no right to assault the victim. He apologised without being forced, so we have given him permission to write exams, but it will not be in the company of other learners.”

On allegations that the school was notorious for bullying, Lesufi said: “If parents do not report these incidents, then they are letting down the victims. We plead with parents to come forward. We have zero tolerance to bullying in schools and encourage parents to report such incidents.”

The victim’s family has opened a criminal case. Meanwhile, the Inkatha Freedom Party has called on Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga to call an anti-bullying summit following the incident.

“A school where children don’t feel safe is one where children struggle to learn. It is where children get depressed and drop out,” said the party’s education spokesman, Alfred Mpontshane.

See Leader, Page 8