A teacher is in hot water for manhandling a pupil after he allegedly refused to hand over a hat.
In a video shot by a pupil from Sijabulile Secondary School in Katlehong, east of Johannesburg, the teacher, whose name is known to Sunday Times Daily, can be seen repeatedly pushing and shoving a Grade 9 pupil around the class.
The teacher grabs hold of the 14-year-old boy while trying to forcefully remove the cap from him. He pushes the teenager towards the chalkboard and as the boy moves away, he grabs him and pushes him again. The teacher can be seen holding the boy by the neck and pushing him away while other pupils file into the classroom.
The incident took place on April 14.
On April 22 the school became involved in another scandal after the deputy chairperson of its governing body, Sphiwe Hlatshwayo, chased a group of pupils while allegedly wielding a sjambok.
One of them, a pregnant teenager, fell during the incident and had to be hospitalised at Thelle Mogoerane hospital in Vosloorus.
The principal told staff on Monday that the girl was still in the facility.
Meanwhile, the father of the boy who was manhandled said he was upset about what had happened to his son.
“Even now my son is scared and shocked. The school must take action against the teacher.”
He said the youngster wore the cap to school because it was hot.
The father insisted his son was holding the cap, not wearing it, when he entered the classroom.
“My son refused to give the teacher the cap when he asked him because he took another cap from my son last year and did not give it back to him.”
According to minutes of a meeting of the school’s safety committee on April 16 , a copy of which has been seen by Sunday Times Daily, the teacher said he was looking for the chalkboard duster when he saw the boy and two of his friends wearing hats in class.
“I ordered them to hand it over and two of his friends obliged, but he refused. We struggled to and fro over the cap. He became violent, screaming that the cap was not his.”
The teacher said he almost fell “upon being pushed by him”.
“Then I eventually overpowered the learner ... I wanted to treat learners equally, that is why I insisted on having his hat.”
According to the minutes the teacher apologised for the incident.
“I realise that at that moment I got carried away, but I totally apologise. I don’t hate him. The boy is smart, but was won over by elderly boys. He must change to be a better person,” the teacher said, according to the minutes.
It is just unfortunate that the teacher was overwhelmed by the situation. He wanted learners to settle down and he lost control of that.
— Acting principal Tsiliso Mothijoa
Some of the resolutions taken at the meeting, during which the teacher and pupil were present, included:
• Try to be an obedient pupil and stop back-chatting and disrespecting teachers;
• The pupil must apologise to the class;
• The teacher must apologise to the class for losing his temper; and
• All teachers at the school need a workshop on pupil discipline.
A teacher at the school who spoke to Sunday Times Daily on condition of anonymity said she had written numerous letters to the pupil’s parents complaining about his “unruly behaviour”.
“Earlier this year he was very rude towards a teacher.”
The acting principal of the school, Tsiliso Mothijoa, confirmed he had reported the matter to the district office.
“It is just unfortunate that the teacher was overwhelmed by the situation. He wanted learners to settle down and he lost control of that.”
He said the teacher had expressed remorse and apologised to the parent for losing his temper.
Gauteng education department spokesperson Steve Mabona said Sunday Times Daily would receive a comprehensive response to queries on Tuesday.
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