The Mpumalanga Education Department has taken swift action following an incident at LD Moetanalo High School in Mhluzi.
A teacher from the school has been placed on precautionary suspension after a video showing the teacher forcefully cutting a pupil’s braids went viral on social media. The video has stirred significant concern and prompted an immediate response from educational authorities.
Mpumalanga Education Department spokesperson, Gerald Sambo, confirmed the suspension and stated that an investigation is underway.
‘The department has decided to institute precautionary suspension against the teacher with immediate effect while the investigation into the circumstances that led to this incident unfolds,’ Sambo announced. The suspension is an initial step in addressing the situation and ensuring that it is thoroughly examined.
As part of the investigation, the department will also review the school’s code of conduct for learners.
This reflection aims to understand if and how the code might have influenced the teacher’s actions and to establish measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The findings of the investigation will guide any necessary amendments to the code of conduct.
In response to the emotional impact of the incident on the involved pupil and other students, the department has pledged to provide psycho-social counselling.
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Sambo emphasized the urgency of this support, stating, ‘The learner and other learners affected by this unfortunate incident will urgently be assisted with psychological counselling by departmental officials to help them pull through this unfortunate ordeal.’
Further details on the outcome of the investigation will be shared by the Mpumalanga Education Department upon its conclusion.
