Times Of Swaziland: TEACHER ARRESTED FOR SEVERELY BASHING PUPIL

TEACHER ARRESTED FOR SEVERELY BASHING PUPIL
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 BY KHULEKANI NENE  on 20/06/2019 03:56:00


SITEKI – A primary school boy was left with a bruised lip, swollen cheek and
bruise marks on his back after he was severely whipped by a teacher.
*John (10) of Gilgal Primary School had to be rushed to Sithobela Health Centre
for treatment following the beating.
The incident happened last Friday afternoon, during ‘cleaning time’, the
school’s administration said.
According to the mother of the pupil, the teacher whipped the pupil for
allegedly defying her orders.
“He told me that the teacher had informed them to clean their classroom and
then go to play. After arranging the furniture inside the classroom, he went to
play but the teacher was not happy with this,” said the mother of the boy, who
did not give her name.
Whipped
She said the teacher then whipped the boy in front of other pupils, accusing him
of being defiant.
“He tried to run away but he fell to the ground. Instead, of picking him up,
the teacher continued to whip him and even kicked him,” the parent alleged.
She wondered why the teacher had targeted her son only, since there were other
pupils who had gone to play instead of cleaning the classroom.
The mother said after the incident, the pupil returned home and the teacher did
not take him to hospital, despite that the boy was seriously injured.
“I was not at home when he arrived but when I came back in the evening, I
realised that he needed medical attention. I personally administered first aid
to him and a community health motivator (umgcugcuteli) provided painkillers,”
the mother said.
The young boy was then taken to Sithobela Health Centre, where he was treated
and discharged.
On Monday, the parent approached the school’s administration to lodge a formal
complaint.
She showed the school’s administration the bruise marks on the boy’s back,
the swollen cheek and the bruised lips.
The school’s administration apologised profusely to the parent.
“I’m not privy to what happened on the day the pupil was injured since I was
not around school. The parent reported the incident and we have also informed
our superiors about it,” said the school Head teacher, Nomsa Gwebu. She
further mentioned that the pupil had since returned to class, adding that the
teacher was also continuing with her duties.
Locked
Lubombo Regional Education Officer (REO) Musa Mthupha said he was locked in a
meeting when called yesterday afternoon.
It’s understood that regional education officials are investigating the matter
after it was formally reported by the school’s administration.
After she did not get a satisfactory explanation from the school’s
administration, the parent of the boy approached Siphofaneni police to open a
case against the teacher.
Consequently, the teacher was arrested and charged for allegedly bashing the
young boy.
Thulile Fortunate Mhlanga (39), a teacher at Gilgal Primary School, was charged
with contravening Section 48 (1) of The Children Protection and Welfare Act no:
6/2012.
“...the said accused being a teacher of John (10), did unlawfully and
physically abuse the said (pupil) by assaulting him with a stick several times
on the back body and (further) kicked him on the stomach,”  reads in part the
charge sheet.
Mhlanga appeared before Magistrate Dumisani Mazibuko, who was sitting at the Big
Bend Circuit Court.
She elected to conduct her own defence, when her right to legal representation
was explained to her.
When the charges were put to her, Mhlanga pleaded guilty to the offence.
Prosecutors accepted her plea, further informing the court that they would not
lead evidence.
Evidence
However, the public prosecutor handed in a report by the doctor, who examined
the pupil, as part of the evidence.
The Magistrate postponed the matter to July 3, 2019.
Mhlanga applied for bail and her application was not opposed by prosecutors.
She was released on E5 000 bail, which was accompanied by conditions.
A couple of years ago, government banned corporal punishment in schools in
favour of positive discipline.
However, it seems some teachers are simple failing or else reluctant to comply
with the ban.
Since the ban was formally pronounced by the erstwhile Minister of Education and
Training, Phineas Magagula, there have been many incidences of teachers bashing
pupils.
One of the most shocking incidences was when a 17-year-old boy from Nkonjwa
Primary School died after he was allegedly whipped severely by a teacher.
*Not his real name to protect minor.