Islamic centre principal gets bail after arrest for allegedly beating pupils

The principal and an alleged accomplice from the Lydenburg Islamic centre in Mpumalanga have been released on R1,000 bail each, after they were arrested on charges of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Mohammed Zuhayer Baker, 25, and 23-year-old Anees Cader appeared in the Mashishing Magistrate's Court on Monday.

They face five counts of assault with grievous bodily harm (GBH). The matter was postponed to May 6 for further investigation.

The arrests were made after health workers treated an injured 10-year-old boy who required hospitalisation.

Five other pupils have spoken out on incidents of corporal punishment since the police began an investigation.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said on Sunday that the corporal punishment allegedly took place at the centre.

Hlathi said the 10-year-old pupil was taken to hospital by the centre management on April 1. "They told nurses that they suspected the boy was suffering from an allergy as his eyes were blood red. Hospital staff became suspicious when the centre management did not want the boy to respond to questions posed to him, instead they were the ones responding on his behalf."

When hospital staff decided that the boy should be admitted for treatment, the principal insisted that he wanted to stay with him. He was not allowed to do so, as this is against hospital policy.

During treatment, hospital staff noticed severe injuries on the pupil's buttocks.

"When asked what happened, he told the nurses that he was beaten by the principal with a hosepipe."

Other injuries were also noticed on the boy.

"The victim, who hails from Cape Town and came to the centre to learn the Quran, explained that the principal used to beat them when they failed his tests. At one stage he was beaten to such an extent that he started to wet his bed when asleep.

"Statements from other learners and staff members confirmed the harsh punishment the learners are going through at the centre, with five other victims having come to the fore," Hlathi said.