/ 27 February 2003

Boy dies after teacher knocks heads together

A teacher from Bulwer in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands will appear in court on Thursday morning on a murder charge after she allegedly knocked together the heads of four schoolboys, apparently killing one of them, Beeld reported.

The female teacher allegedly punished the boys by knocking their heads together on February 14, Beeld said. Eight-year-old S’khumbuzo Memela later complained of headaches and on Sunday he was admitted to Edendale hospital in Pietermaritzburg. He died on Tuesday.

Initially, the school’s principal defended the teacher and allegedly failed to report the matter to the police, the newspaper said.

The teacher was arrested after she and the principal were dismissed from their posts. – Sapa