Principal arrested after pupils, aged 6 and 9, assaulted

A primary school principal has been charged with kidnapping and assault after he and three community policing forum members allegedly assaulted two pupils, aged 6 and 9, they had accused of stealing from the school. 

The pupils, in grades 1 and 3 respectively, were accused of stealing a microwave, 60 reams of A4 paper, a heater, a rubbish bin and a light bulb from eQuleni Junior Primary in Mdantsane’s NU2 during the recent school holidays. 

Residents unhappy with the alleged assault of the children and what they deemed a lack of communication from the department of education in responding to the matter, on Tuesday shut down the school. 

Police have opened cases of assault and kidnapping against the four. 

The two pupils were assaulted on Tuesday last week.

The mother of the nine-year-old boy said three members of the community forum, along with a school employee, “went on a manhunt”. 

“When they came to my place, they turned the place upside down looking for the stolen items and found nothing.

“They [allegedly] started assaulting my son in my presence then left with him.”

The mother followed the men to the school but they would not let her in.

She said she watched helplessly as her son was allegedly viciously attacked, eventually soiling himself. 

“I begged them to stop as the beating was getting intense. He was weeping.”

Her son’s arm was fractured in the assault, while the six-year-old was bruised.

The mother said that after the assault she took him to hospital. 

“He is still is in pain.

“I am heartbroken because the incident has left my son scared. He doesn’t seem to be settled, his mind is everywhere.” 

The mother of the younger boy said the incident had caused her child significant trauma.

“I witnessed my child getting beaten up for something he didn’t know anything about.

“They were telling him to confess that they had stolen the items. They even went as far as cutting their hair.”

The distraught mother said the incident had left the family in shock.

“There was no forced entry at the school — someone opened with a key and closed with a key, which leaves us wondering where the boys could have got the key.” 

She said their children had no idea who the perpetrator was.

“I am not feeling well, my child is in shock and he doesn’t trust anyone at this point.”

Community member Sebenzile Xatasi said the incident had left the community distraught.

“We are wondering why they didn’t call the police first instead of [allegedly] taking the law into their own hands.”

The community decided to shut the school down because the department was not responding to their complaints. 

“We had been trying to talk to department officials, but since they were not taking any action, we felt it was better to shut down the school.

“And indeed after we did that, department officials heard our plea. 

“We are heartbroken because we do not know what else is going to happen to these children.”

Police spokesperson Captain Hazel Mqala confirmed police were investigating the matter. 

“Police can confirm a case of kidnapping and assault was opened for investigation at Mdantsane SAPS.

“Preliminary investigations were conducted, and four suspects aged between 47 and 54 were arrested.

“All four suspects appeared at the Mdantsane magistrate’s court on July 12 2024.

“The principal was released on bail and the other three were remanded.”

NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said the three in custody had on Tuesday been granted bail of R500 and would appear in court on August 12. 

Provincial Community Policing Forum secretary Ludumo Salman has condemned the incident. 

“I am shattered by the incident. Children are supposed to be safe ... No-one has a right to assault anyone.” 

Salman said parents had every right to lay criminal complaints.

Khula Community Development Project director Petros Majola  said the education department needed to take swift action against the accused principal.

“If he did this, he did not hold to the code of teachers’ ethics.”

Majola said the case should have been dealt with differently.

“Children of that age have no criminal capacity according to SA law.

“Therefore if they commit crime, there are procedures to be followed involving social workers, so they can be called to order in an appropriate way.”

He said the community forum members also needed training. 

Education department spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said a meeting about the incident was due to be held on Tuesday.

“The matter needs an extended SGB [school governing body] and parent component of the school for discussion on this and other issues.”

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