This follows a video that has been doing the rounds on social media of a 53-year-old school teacher allegedly being assaulted by a parent at Phera Primary School in the Tsetse Village near Mafikeng last week Monday.

OFM News previously reported the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) had called on the North West Department of Education to tighten security across the province. According to the North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi, the parent lodged a complaint, asking why her child was turned back by the teacher for coming late. Malindi said the department conducted an investigation in which it was revealed that both learners never arrived at school, as their names were not on the register for that day. The 53-year-old teacher has over 10 years teaching experience. The mother has two children, one in grade 4 and the other in grade R at the school.

“On behalf of the department, I would like to strongly condemn the alleged incident against one of our teachers. I am perturbed by the incident and the actions of this specific parent. Our teachers are beacons of hope and should be treated as such for the huge revolutionary role they play in educating our society. As a department, we plead with parents to protect teachers and not to cause them any harm. Teachers should be treated as a scarce commodity which needs to be protected by the entire society,” said North West Education MEC, Mmaphefo Matsemela.

Malindi has also stated that a team of psychologists has been tasked to conduct counselling for both teachers and learners at the school.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi