As Child Protection Week was being observed this week, a deputy headmaster of the country's most expensive boys' preparatory school was placed on precautionary suspension for allegedly hitting a Grade 6 pupil on the back.
The Sunday Times has established that Chris Verster, deputy head for operational matters and discipline at The Ridge School in Johannesburg, where tuition fees for Grade 3 to 7 pupils this year are R119,550, allegedly hit the boy during a lesson on Tuesday.
The boy, the son of a popular radio presenter, is said to have burst into tears after the incident.
According to a parent, who informed the Sunday Times about the incident, the blow left red marks on the boy's back.
Principal Richard Stanley confirmed in a statement to the Sunday Times that "in view of the seriousness of the matter", the teacher was placed on precautionary suspension on Wednesday.
When the school was notified about the incident, it immediately conducted a preliminary investigation, including meeting the pupil, his parents and the teacher, he said.
"The teacher has indicated that he did not intentionally hit the learner concerned. The school has appointed an independent senior counsel to chair a disciplinary hearing into the allegations, which will take place early next week.
"Until that process is finalised, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further on the matter."He said the school's mission statement made it clear that the foundation of education provided to boys at the school "rests on instilling respect and tolerance among all of its learners and educators. Corporal punishment has no place at The Ridge and is inconsistent with our approach to teaching."
In a letter to parents, Stanley said the teacher was alleged to have "cuffed" the boy.
"Needless to say, this is a particularly delicate, sensitive and highly emotive issue and I would ask parents not to add fuel to the fire by getting involved in unnecessary and unhelpful gossip, damaging speculation and loose talk."A parent said he was outraged and disgusted by the teacher's action, adding: "Any form of corporal punishment is illegal."
The boy's father did not respond to an e-mail seeking his reaction.
The school said that it had received an e-mail from the teacher's lawyer advising him not to speak to the press.
Prior to his appointment at The Ridge School in May 2016, Verster was the head of pastoral care at Rondebosch Boys' Preparatory School in Cape Town...