As Amagolo Tefu prepares to celebrate his 11th birthday, the scars of the brutal assault he endured still linger in his memory.
|||As Amagolo Tefu prepares to celebrate his 11th birthday on Tuesday, the scars of the brutal assault he endured allegedly at the hands of an assistant teacher at Burger Right Primary School still linger in his memory.
Amagolo was late for class last week because his soccer coach had asked him to tell his teammates their match had been cancelled. When he made his way to class, he was allegedly met by the teacher’s fury and beaten on his leg with a thick wooden object, allegedly more than three times during the same class.
Masia said the incident had scarred her child psychologically.
“The beating has affected him. I asked him if I should take him out of the school, but he said no.”
The fuming mother said she’d still not heard from the school principal or School Governing Body (SGB).
“The only thing they did was to change him from the class.
“The Department of Education is taking special interest in the matter, but the school is not,” she said.
“I am starting to believe that had I not gone to the department to report the matter, the school would not have done anything.”
Masia said the school’s reluctance to act or to contact her showed that corporal punishment was regarded as the norm at the school.
“They are not showing any remorse. This suggests to me that they see this as something that is supposed to happen at school.”
SGB deputy chairman Samuel Chauke said they had called an emergency meeting for Tuesday.
“We are going to try and get to the bottom f this during the meeting and then we will call the mother to address it with her,” said Chauke.
Gauteng Department of Education spokesman Charles Phahlane said counselling arrangements had been made for the family. The department was still investigating claims that the school still administered corporal punishment.
Masia confirmed that the department had contacted her for counselling, but she told it that it was not only her child who was scarred by the incident but his former classmates as well and they should also get counselling.
Speaking to the Pretoria News on Monday, Amagolo said things were going smoothly at the school and he had not been victimised by any of the teachers or pupils. But he feared it might happen over time. Recalling the incident, he said: “I’m disappointed and scared.”
The youngster, who dreams of becoming a professional soccer player, said his injuries were healing. He had been able to get back on to the field to do what he loved best, scoring goals.
There has been widespread condemnation from readers after the article detailing the extent of Amagolo’s injuries.
One person even faxed a complaint to the school and lambasted the principal for condoning corporal punishment.
“You have lost touch with the constitution/Bill of Rights. Corporal punishment was banned 15 years ago! Where have you been all this time?? I suggest you get out of your Ivory Tower and start walking around to see who is abusing the pupils you are supposed to be taking care of!! You are an accomplice to the wrongful act!”
SMSes from readers also criticised the school’s handling of the matter. Many asked how a person without qualifications could be allowed in a classroom and beat up a pupil to such an extent.
karabo.seanego@inl.co.za
Pretoria News