Protest erupts at Soshanguve school over learner assaults
Image: Rapula Moatshe/Independent Newspapers
Chaos erupted at Soshanguve South Secondary School on Wednesday morning when learners broke the gate and left the premises to join a group of protesters from the EFF and United Africans Transformation (UAT).
The protesters demanded the principal's resignation after a viral video showing learners being physically assaulted with broomsticks by outsiders on school grounds on Monday, allegedly for arriving late.
It is alleged that the school principal allowed outsiders, linked to a local community policing forum, to discipline learners who are sometimes involved in violent fights.
A parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said her child was still traumatised after being beaten at school on Monday for arriving late.
The parent said: "He told us he was traumatised after being beaten with broomsticks, like a thief, especially by someone who was not his father. He is injured on his back, and we had to massage him last night to ease the pain. I am not feeling well about what happened."
Some learners claimed they had been previously assaulted in classrooms by the same community members, who also forced them to do push-ups.
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Lindiwe Masilela from the EFF in Tshwane said her party's student command was called by learners to intervene in the situation that unfolded at the school on Monday.
She condemned corporal punishment, saying it had been abolished long ago and what happened at the school was unwarranted.
She demanded the arrest of the school principal, deputy principal, and the chairperson of the School Governing Body (SGB) for the assault incident.
Additionally, she called on Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, to intervene, criticising him for merely attending ceremonial events instead of addressing pressing issues.
Masilela dismissed the claim that her party had instructed learners to disperse from the school.
"You saw that it was the leaders who broke the gate lock to escape because they were scared to be at the school," she said.
Bongani Ramontja, leader of the civic group Soil of Africa, blamed the principal for involving community members in punishing learners.
"We want decisive action against the principal. He should be suspended pending investigation, along with teachers who witnessed the incident and failed to intervene," he said.
Lesley Sebotsane from UAT said: 'We need to get to the root of the problem so we can ensure our children are in a safe environment when they are at school. Reports of physical abuse signal that something is seriously wrong."
Gauteng Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said the department is aware and deeply concerned by an incident that took place on Monday.
'According to our reports, community members allegedly overpowered scholar patrollers and forced their way into the school premises where they reportedly began beating girl and boy learners. It is also alleged that they nearly assaulted department officials and the principal who tried to intervene, and they proceeded to verbally abuse them,' he said.
He said an assault case had been reported to the police and that psychosocial support was being provided to affected learners and staff.
He appealed to the community to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
'While we acknowledge the frustrations that may arise from issues such as late-coming, under no circumstances can physical violence or intimidation be justified, especially when directed at children and education officials,' he said.
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za
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