The principal of Manyano Primary School in Middelburg in Mpumalanga, who was charged by the education department with allegedly assaulting 14-year-old pupil Siphamandla Choma who later died in hospital, has been dismissed, the department said.
Department spokesman Jasper Zwane said the principal was found guilty at an an internal disciplinary hearing of assaulting the pupil.
“The department found that the principal violated the sacrosanct responsibility of protecting learners in the school. His conduct has brought the efficiency and administration of the department into disrepute.
“In terms of section 10 of the South African Schools Act number 84 of 1998, corporal punishment is prohibited. This section provides further that any person who contravenes it is guilty of assault and is liable to a sentence that may be imposed for assault,” he said.
Having considered these factors and the aggravating and mitigating factors, the department concluded that an appropriate sanction in the circumstances was dismissal. The principal, who was not identified, has since been served with a letter of dismissal and advised of his right to appeal the findings of the disciplinary hearing and the sanction within five days, Zwane said.
Siphamandla was paralysed late last year following an alleged assaulted by the principal in Mhluzi township. This was after the boy was accused of stealing R150. He died on March 19 at the Middelburg Hospital, where he had been admitted for treatment after the alleged assault.
Mpumalanga South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) secretary Walter Hlaise on Sunday told the African News Agency (ANA) that the principal had since lodged an appeal against his dismissal.
“We have noted the dismissal and the principal has exercised his options and appealed. We respect the [disciplinary] processes. All we have to do is to wait for the outcome of the appeal before making further comment, but we generally oppose corporal punishment in schools,” Hlaise said.
Mpumalanga National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokeswoman Monica Nyuswa said on Sunday the principal would appear in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court on September 5 on charges of assault.
“He will be charged with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. The court appearance will be his first appearance and he will be told of his rights to an attorney.
“We are still waiting for the post mortem results that would determine the cause of death [of Siphamandla]. The charge of assault will be changed to one of culpable homicide if the post mortem results reveal that the cause of death is linked to the assault by the principal. I’m not sure if the principal has been served with the charge,” Nyuswa said.
– African News Agency (ANA)
