Teachers and a Principal were arrested over corporal punishment

Teachers and a Principal arrested over corporal punishment in a local school in Mpumalanga.

The Mpumalanga police have confirmed the arrest of three educators and a principal in a local school in Breyten.

Police said the arrest came after reports surfaced that they are implicated in an incident where four learners aged between 17 and 21, were assaulted. This incident which left the learners with injuries took place on 31 August 2020.

According to information at the police disposal, the educators instituted corporal punishment on the learners and as a result, the learners sustained injuries. One of the learners then reported the matter to her parents who in turn alerted police.

“A case was then registered were three other learners also came forward with further allegations of assault against the three educators. The then investigated the matter and it was discovered that amongst the educators implicated, is the Principal of the school, the Head of Department (HOD) as well as a post level one educator,” said Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Leonard Hlathi.

Hlathi said the three were immediately apprehended and they are facing a case of assault with an intent to cause grievous bodily harm as well as an additional charge of common assault.