Eastern Cape Principal Allegedly Beats Learners for Stealing

Eastern Cape Principal Allegedly Beats Learners for Stealing

  • A principal from the Eastern Cape is in hot water after allegedly assaulting two learners over the school holidays
  • The learners allegedly stole from the school, and the teacher beat them; the province's education department is investigating the incident
  • South Africans discussed whether the man was justified in beating the child up, while others called for him to be jailed

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During his four years at Daily Sun, Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist, contributed coverage of criminal activities, investigations and court proceedings in South Africa.

An Eastern Cape principal allegedly assaulted two learners
A principal is in hot water for allegedly beating two learners. Image: NickyLloyd
Source: Getty Images

EASTERN CAPE—The Eastern Cape's Department of Education is investigating an incident in which a principal allegedly assaulted school learners.

Eastern Cape principal allegedly assaults learners

According to IOL, the six and nine-year-old children allegedly stole a microwave, a heater, reams of A4 paper and a bin. The principal then reportedly assaulted them, and the South African Police Service was called to arrest him. He was not arrested.

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The department said it is investigating the incident and will meet with stakeholders, including officials from the department, the police, the School Governing Body, and the Community Policing Forum, to investigate the matter further.

South Africans debate the incident

Netizens on Facebook were on two sides, with one side calling for the principal to be arrested for allegedly assaulting the children and the other opposing his arrest.

Netizens call for his arrest

Piet Johane said:

"Police, do your work, please."

Chad Pillay said:

"He belongs behind bars. Throw the book at him."

Others supported him

Charmaine Gradwell asked:

"So if an adult gives a kid a hiding, it's assault, but when kids bully other kids, often very severely, it's not assault?"

Dane Nundlal said:

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"That's what the children of today need."

Thandeka Thande said:

"So what was he supposed to do? I would have done the same thing."

SA woman accuses creche of abusing children

In a similar article, Briefly News reported that a woman posted a video on TikTok accusing a creche of abusing its learners.

The woman said she saw children in an overloaded transport, and one of the teachers allegedly assaulted one of the learners.

Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Tebogo Mokwena avatar

Tebogo Mokwena (Current Affairs editor) Tebogo Mokwena is the Deputy Head of the Current Affairs desk and a current affairs writer at Briefly News. With a Diploma in Journalism from ALISON, he has a strong background in digital journalism, having completed training with the Google News Initiative. He began his career as a journalist at Daily Sun, where he worked for four years before becoming a sub-editor and journalist at Capricorn Post. He then joined Vutivi Business News in 2020 before moving to Briefly News in 2023.