Video of ‘abuse’ at PE school

The provincial Department of Education is investigating a Motherwell school after a teacher was allegedly caught on camera hitting several pupils with a chalkboard duster because they did not do their homework.

In the video, seen by The Herald, James Jolobe Secondary School teacher Pumla Zatu forces a group of pupils to line up before dishing out the punishment.

The life orientation teacher can be seen hitting three girls and a boy over the knuckles with the chalkboard duster.

Pupils cry and clutch their hands after being struck with the duster.

One of Zatu’s Grade 10 pupils said the whole school was sick of corporal punishment.

The pupil, who asked not to be named, said: “We want it stopped. There are better ways of correcting pupils.”

She alleged the pupils were also victimised because the school insisted on natural hair.

“We prefer braiding and weaves. Why make it an issue – hair does not interfere with school work.”

Another pupil said they were sick and tired of the teachers’ actions.

“The principal is hell-bent on pleasing his teachers but fails to listen to the grievances of the pupils,” the pupil said.

“He simply shoves them [grievances] under the table.

“The teachers even use derogatory names to address some of the pupils. It’s wrong and cannot be ignored.

“This is why we are speaking out. It has to stop.”

Eastern Cape Department of Education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima described the incident as deplorable.

“Corporal punishment was abolished in 1996. We do not approve of it,” he said.

“There are many remedial ways to deal with bad behaviour and this includes losing points or sending them to detention.”

Mtima said an education development officer had been sent to the school to investigate further.

“We want to establish why corporal punishment was implemented.
“The department regards corporal punishment as an assault.”

James Jolobe principal Fundile Dayimane said on Friday: “I can’t comment. The matter is under discussion.”

Asked by a Herald reporter if he could speak to Zatu, Dayimane said she had gone out.

“She is not here. She was in my office . . . She asked for permission and left.”

He said the department had told him not to speak to the media.

“No, I am not going to comment. There are still processes that need to be followed.

“The department has its own spokesman,” Dayimane said.

SA Human Rights Commission spokesman Isaac Mangena said statistics from the 2011 General Household Survey indicated that there were more than two million reported incidents of corporal punishment in schools in 2011.

“Any teacher or school principal using corporal punishment is acting in contravention of the law,” he said. “Corporal punishment is illegal. “The commission has received complaints and has noted instances where the violence committed by educators against learners extends far beyond the ambit of the definition of corporal punishment.”

These included instances where children were severely humiliated, grievously injured, left disabled, or did not survive their injuries.

Mangena said the Department of Basic Education and the SA Council of Educators were mainly responsible for the discipline of teachers in the event of corporal punishment allegations.

“The commission works with these entities in cases involving corporal punishment,” he said.

“But it also examines systemic issues surrounding the use of this form of discipline and seeks to address issues of school governance through constructive engagement, research, education and advocacy.”

Clinical psychologist Gillian van der Riet said discipline was necessary in schools, however, it was appalling to resort to corporal punishment which had been abolished in schools.

“There are other methods to discipline them [pupils], including detention or making them clean the school,” she said.

“To beat them is disrespecting them and must be reported to the education department.”

National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA chief executive Peter Duminy said if there was enough evidence, the perpetrator of the corporal punishment should be charged.

“I understand sometimes teachers get frustrated with those doing wrong, but that is not an excuse,” he said. “Corporal punishment is not condoned. “The school leadership must have a code of conduct agreed upon by everyone to determine the type of punishment.”

School governing body chairman Gcobani Makwethu could not be reached for comment.