Free State to ramp up probe into fight between teacher and pupil over phone

The Free State department of education has promised to ramp up a disciplinary hearing into a viral video of a scuffle between a teacher and a grade 8 pupil at Hoër Tegniese Skool Welkom earlier this month.

The incident, which occurred on September 2, has sparked widespread concern after the video surfaced on social media this week.

Sibusiso Majola, media liaison officer for the department, told TimesLIVE the investigations would be completed soon, with disciplinary recommendations expected by next week.

“There has been an investigation and that process is about to be concluded. At this stage, we are about to have a final report and the public will be briefed on that,” he said.

The video shows the teacher and the pupil engaged in a physical altercation over a mobile phone. Majola said the altercation ensued after the teacher asked the pupil to turn it off, as it was disrupting the class but the pupil allegedly refused.

He explained that the process had been prolonged due to the involvement of multiple stakeholders.

“The process is about to be concluded and the reason for that is because a number of stakeholders were involved. Remember, there are teacher representations in the form of trade unions, and there's also the SGB,” he said. 

While the circumstances surrounding the altercation are unclear, he said the department was treating the case seriously.

“The MEC [Dr Mamiki Julia Maboya] looks at these things on a very serious note. It has implications for the teaching and learning processes, as well as the integrity and the reputation of teaching at the classroom level,” said Majola.

Maboya has publicly condemned the incident.

“This is deeply concerning ... and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. We take this matter seriously. The safety of everyone on the premises of schools remains our utmost priority,” she said.

“Such ill-discipline will not be tolerated. Schools are for development, not for any other self-defeating activities.”

TimesLIVE