eNCA | Department condemns alleged assault of disabled pupil
JOHANNESBURG – The Gauteng Department of Education on Monday said it condemned the assault of a pupil at the Adelaide Tambo School for the disabled in Soweto, allegedly at the hands of a food handler.
Another pupil captured the assault on the 16-year-old girl, who was subsequently forced off a bus out and left in the middle of nowhere.
Department spokesperson Steve Mabona said that the food handler was suspended and was out on bail after a criminal case was opened.
“As a department, we are very disappointed by the incident. We are not going to tolerate any ill-treatment of our learners by our officials.”
WATCH: School-assault video: Department demands answers from principal
The department said the incident was not reported to the district office by the school. It learnt of it only when the video footage emerged.
“Officials from the Inclusion and Special Schools [section] went to the school this morning to investigate the incident. In addition, officials from Labour Relations have launched an investigation surrounding the circumstances of the incident so that disciplinary measures can be initiated,” the department said in a statement.
“The parent of the learner was alerted about the incident on 13 September after the school failed to inform her. She opened a case on the same day and the food handler was arrested [but] later released on bail, pending police investigations.”
The department added the food handler was no longer at the school, while the bus driver had been suspended from Monday.
“The process of counselling all affected learners has commenced,” the department said.
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said: “We are disappointed about this incident – extra care must be afforded to learners with disabilities. It is shocking to see the escalating incidents of assault taking place in our schools. As a department we will act vigorously in making sure that the perpetrators face the might of the law.”
African News Agency