Learner suspended for throwing sewage at teacher
Educator reprimanded learner for not wearing proper uniform
A20-year-old grade 12 pupil at Mophate Secondary School in Bothaville, Free State, has been suspended after he allegedly threw sewage on a female teacher in front of other pupils during a class lesson.
The incident happened on Tuesday while the victim was teaching a grade 12 class. The pupil was apparently irked after the teacher reprimanded him on Monday for not wearing a proper uniform.
The pupil left for home and returned the following day when he went to the class where the victim was busy teaching and allegedly threw sewage on her.
On Tuesday, the teacher posted a picture of herself with stains on her clothes and part of her face on her Facebook page. She also included a video of the boy who was next to other teachers in the staff room where the principal summoned him.
Another video showed a teacher and the pupil engaged in an argument. The teacher is heard telling him to sit down so that they can write an incident report. The pupil is seen trying to force his way out of the staff room but one of the male teachers is heard telling him that he ’ s not going anywhere.
The pupil can be heard threatening to do the same thing [throw sewage at him] to the teacher, with the teacher saying that he is not scared of him. The pupil then says they will meet in the township streets. The principal wants the pupil to be allowed to go back to class, of which the victim says she can ’ t return to class while she is still covered in sewage.
The principal refused to comment when contacted yesterday and referred queries to the provincial department of education.
Sadtu provincial secretary Mokholoane Moloi said the teacher reprimanded the pupil for not wearing proper uniform on Monday. “Apparently, he was angry when he left the school and he came back on Tuesday with a container apparently filled with sewage and allegedly threw it on the teacher in full view of other pupils as her class was in session, Moloi said.
The principal immediately suspended the boy pending a disciplinary hearing which has to take place within five days. The teacher has been left traumatised and embarrassed by the incident and the Free State department of education has organised counselling for her and other teachers.”
Moloi said it was unfortunate that the incident happened during the month of October, which is dedicated to honour teachers.
Attempts to contact the teacher drew a blank yesterday as she did not respond to a message Sowetan sent to her inbox. Free State education spokesperson Howard Ndaba said the pupil will appear before the school ’ s disciplinary committee today.
MEC Tate Makgoe said the department will further investigate the incident and offer psycho-social support to pupils and teachers who witnessed the incident.
We frown upon any form of violence in our schools and we call on our learners to maintain a high level of discipline and respect for their teachers,” Makgoe said.
The pupil will appear before the school ’ s disciplinary committee today