KZN teacher caught on video caning pupils enrages parents

A video of a KwaZulu-Natal teacher seen caning pupils has left parents fuming.

The teacher, from Siyabonga Secondary School in Illovo township next Amanzimtoti, can be seen administering corporal punishment on the learners outside the school gates.

The incident happened on Tuesday when a number of pupils arrived late for school.  It has been years since corporal punishment was banned in SA schools under the school’s act of 1996.

In the video circulating on social networks, there are two teachers outside the school gates where learners are making their way into the school. A female teacher sanitises them and they go to a male teacher who proceeds to hit them twice on the palms of their hands.

One of the parents can be heard saying the pupils were coming from far and that is why they were late.

“I was shocked when I saw the incident, I couldn’t believe it. I have a seven month old, and I wouldn’t like him to grow up in a place where corporal punishment is still an everyday occurrence. I wish the education department can do something about this,” said a parent who took the video.

While visiting the province earlier this year, the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education raised concern about the scholar transport system.

Committee chair Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba said they were  informed that due to budgetary constraints, the department can provide transport for only  62,070 of the qualifying 117,000 learners that require transport in the province. 

“In order to address this perennial challenge of transport in the province, the committee has urged the provincial department to engage National Treasury."

“Permanent solutions must be found for this problem, especially considering that 70% of schools in KZN are in rural areas and they consist of learners largely who come from poor family backgrounds,” Mbinqo-Gigaba said.

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