Broadcaster eNews Channel Africa has released a video allegedly made by a pupil at Hoërskool Patriot in eMalahleni
After the video was broadcast on eNews Channel Africa, the station reported that the Mpumalanga education department had suspended the teacher and was investigating the incident.
The alleged assault was filmed last week and shows a grade nine pupil and teacher embroiled in an altercation that quickly turns violent. Students can be heard shouting at the teacher to stop while trying to pull the pair apart.
Rights group Equal Education has called for the teacher’s immediate dismissal.
It said in a statement, “Corporal punishment at schools is unconstitutional and illegal in South Africa, and constitutes a criminal offence. Section 10 of the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996 stipulates that ‘(a) No person may administer corporal punishment at a school to a learner; and (b) Any person who contravenes this is guilty of an offence, and liable on conviction to a sentence which could be imposed for assault.'”
The school told eNCA it was looking into the matter.