The Eastern Cape department of education has admitted responsibility for the injuries suffered by a grade 4 pupil who was severely assaulted by a Uitenhage teacher – settling in a civil case.
The teacher was called by a child who claimed to have been bullied by the pupil.
The child alleged that a group of friends – led by the claimant in the case – had pushed a glue stick into the child’s mouth.
After hearing the complaint, the teacher walked into the class, slapped the pupil, who was only 10 at the time, bashed his head against the blackboard, and throttled and kicked him.
According to the pupil, the teacher told him that he would “make him feel” what it is like to be bullied.
The child, who is now 16, developed severe behavioural problems as a result of the assault, according to a psychologist’s report filed with the court.
The department settled the case brought by the pupil’s father in the Port Elizabeth Regional Court on Wednesday.
The father indicated through the family’s attorney, Wilma Espag van der Bank, that they were not willing to speak to the media.They are suing the department for R205,000.
The bulk of the money will pay for the child to undergo therapy for his severe behavioural problems.
The boy was a pupil at Uitenhage Primary School at the time.
The education department conceded that on September 4 2013 the boy was assaulted in full view of his classmates by a teacher who kicked him, hit him with an open hand against his chest and shoved his head against the blackboard until his vision became blurry.
He also smacked him with an open hand, placed his hand around the boy’s throat and choked him.
According to papers before court, the assault left the child bleeding from the mouth, and with a bruised face.
Psychologist Hennie Minnaar who evaluated the child for the purpose of the court case, said in a report that he was showing signs of post-traumatic stress disorder and had developed serious behavioural problems.
Minnaar said he believed the child was acting out as a direct response of not having dealt with the assault and the aggression he felt towards the teacher who had assaulted him.
Eastern Cape department of education spokesperson Mali Mtima confirmed the developments in the civil case.
He said there was a hearing and the teacher received a final written warning and a fine of R10,000.