Soweto Teacher Arrested After Lashing Grade 11 Pupil 92 Times

A teacher accused of brutally assaulting a Grade 11 pupil with a pipe at Tetelo Secondary School has been arrested.

Police confirmed that the educator was taken into custody on Monday following an incident that allegedly saw a pupil receive 92 lashes inside a classroom in Protea North, Soweto.

Teacher Arrested After Family Identifies Suspect at School

Officers accompanied the teenager’s family to the school to formally point out the teacher accused of carrying out the assault.

A relative of the pupil said: “We went to the school with the detectives, and the principal asked that the teacher not be handcuffed, but rather be escorted to the police station. That’s where she has been detained.”

The suspect is currently being held at Moroka Police Station and is scheduled to appear before the Protea Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Tintswalo Sibeko confirmed the arrest.

“A suspect has been arrested today and will appear before the Protea magistrate’s court tomorrow, March 3,” Sibeko said.

Allegations of 92 Lashes Over Essay Length

The incident allegedly followed a classroom assignment in which learners were instructed to write a 150-word essay.

According to the pupil’s family and classmates, the teenager submitted 308 words. The teacher allegedly told her she would receive 158 lashes — matching the number of words she exceeded.

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It is alleged that the pupil was then beaten repeatedly with a pipe. While the assault unfolded, some male classmates reportedly offered to take 10 lashes each in an attempt to spare her. The teacher allegedly struck them as well.

The teenager later required medical attention after her left hand began swelling and developed blood clots.

The case has sparked outrage in the community, with many questioning the use of corporal punishment in schools.

The matter will now proceed before the Protea magistrate’s court.