North West Education MEC Ordered to Pay R30,000 After Teacher Assaults Grade R Student with a stick

The North West High Court in Mafikeng has ordered Ntsetao Viola Motsumi, the MEC of Education, to pay R30,000 in damages to a mother whose son was assaulted by a teacher in 2015. The boy, then five years old, reported being hit with a stick on his hand, leading to physical and emotional harm.

The assault occurred in August 2015 when the child came home from school and revealed the incident. Days later, his hand changed color, prompting medical attention. Despite treatment at a clinic and later at a hospital, the injuries caused lasting effects.

While the mother initially claimed her son was struck with a knobkierie, she clarified in court that the boy himself identified the weapon.

Expert witnesses, including an educational psychologist, testified about the trauma’s impact on the child. According to the psychologist, the boy’s academic performance significantly declined after the incident. He struggled with foundational skills like writing, spelling, and applying numbers, and his emotional state worsened.

The psychologist suggested he was now better suited for a special school and had limited future educational potential. An industrial psychologist added that the boy’s psychological state would likely hinder him from obtaining a matric certificate.

Judge Ronald Deon Hendricks, however, rejected some of the more severe claims. While acknowledging the emotional and physical pain, the judge noted no evidence of permanent disability or an inability to overcome fear and anxiety in the future.

“The victim did not lose the use of his hand and suffered discomfort for approximately two weeks,” said Judge Hendricks.

The judge also pointed out that the boy had passed Grades 1 and 2 after the incident, making it unlikely that the Grade 3 failure was directly related.

The court awarded R30,000 in damages for the pain and suffering endured by the child. The MEC was also ordered to cover the costs of the mother’s application.

This ruling serves as a reminder of the accountability required in education and underscores the importance of safeguarding students from harm in schools.

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