HEAD TEACHER SUING DEPUTY FOR HUMILIATION

MBABANE – Motshane Primary School Head teacher Lungile Shongwe is now suing her deputy for humiliation.

Lungile filed an application wherein she seeks the court to direct Goodness Xaba to compensate her for damages suffered during the alleged humiliation, which took place at the school. 

When motivating her application, Shongwe submitted that she felt so humiliated when Xaba allegedly harassed and further assaulted her in her office on October 10, 2019.

She submitted that on the day in question, she was in her office with a guest when she was approached by Xaba at around 8am. Shongwe alleged that Xaba asked why she had locked her out of the school gate. 

However, the head teacher claimed that she did not respond because she was with the guest. Shongwe told the court that Xaba then requested for a time book.

Guest

“I signalled that I will give it to her later because I was still with the guest. Xaba left my office and proceeded to her office. I also had to rush to the examination room because it was the first day of Grade VII examinations. However, I met the security guard, Isaiah Dlamini, at the door. I proceeded to the examination room where I spent about 30 minutes,” she submitted. 

The head teacher further told the court that she recalled the security guard had requested her to intervene as he did not see eye-to-eye with the deputy. 

“I decided to attend to Xaba first because she was senior. I proceeded to her office, where I knocked and entered. Xaba told me to leave her office. I tried to explain why I was in her office; however, she asked me if I did not hear what she said. She then pushed me against the wall,” she submitted. 

Shongwe told the court that she fell onto a box with her head hitting against the wall. She also claimed that she fell into a ‘revealing’ position. The head teacher told the court that she shouted for help before Xaba could harm her.

Revealing

She stated that two male teachers, Jerome Nkambule and Mbhasobhi Dludlu, entered the office immediately. However, she claimed that the duo could not help her as she had fallen with her back and was in a ‘revealing’ position.  Shongwe submitted that she asked the deputy why she assaulted her. “I also asked if she pushed me because I was the head teacher in the school. She responded that I was stupid and that she wanted to get rid of the stupidity. She then slapped me on the right cheek,” alleged Shongwe.

She told the court that she never retaliated, but told Xaba that it was her last to do what she did to her. Shongwe said  she asked one of the teachers to drive her to the regional education office (REO), where she intended to report the matter before proceeding to the police station. However, she mentioned that the REO informed her that she was out of  the office.

She submitted that she proceeded to the Mbabane Police Station where she eventually reported the matter.

Shongwe told the court that she sustained an injuries to her jaw and the back due to the assaults. As a result, she stated that she was attended to by a dentist, Dr Maseko, who charged her E2 271. 

The head teacher mentioned that she also parted with E391 for treatment by Dr Wasu. She furnished the court with the receipts. “I felt so humiliated, especially because the male teachers found me in a ‘revealing’ position on the floor.” She said the news of her humiliation spread like wildfire as parents flooded her office to sympathise with her. 

“May the court direct Xaba to compensate me for the damages,” she submitted. 

Shongwe is represented by Ben J Simelane in the matter. Mbabane Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi postponed the matter to December 16, 2020 for submissions. On the day, Simelane will be expected to demonstrate the damages suffered by Shongwe as a result of the alleged humiliation.

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