The Gauteng department of education has appointed a law firm to investigate discipline at Diversity High School after the circulation of two video clips of corporal punishment at the school.
A female teacher who was filmed repeatedly striking a 16-year-old girl's knuckles with a blackboard duster was placed on precautionary suspension last week pending an internal disciplinary inquiry.
The school's headmaster, Hosea Maboya, was earlier suspended after cellphone video footage showed him striking a Grade 8 pupil four times with a length of hosepipe.
The education department said the law firm would investigate the two incidents and determine whether they were isolated occurrences.
The lawyers' report will be made public once the investigation is completed. The lawyers will recommend the appropriate disciplinary charges if the two teachers are found to be culpable.
Spokesman Charles Phahlane said yesterday that the department wanted the investigation concluded as soon as possible.
It has been reported that the boy was being punished for being late for school.
In the video, recorded by another pupil, headmaster Maboya is heard shouting, "Shut up, shut up" as the teenager screams.
He yells, "Sorry, Sir" as he falls to the floor, trying to shield himself from the hosepipe.
Maboya kicks him and hits him three more times with the hosepipe.
Police confirmed yesterday that a case of assault had been opened against Maboya.
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