SASELEMANE – A grade R child was hospitalised for six days after her teacher, who accused her of stealing R120, allegedly assaulted her.

Hlayisani Chauke (8) of Saselemane, near Ha-Mhinga, east of Thohoyandou had a fractured left hand and was left with clear marks, after her teacher allegedly attacked her. The incident took place at Mahlohlwani Lower Primary School last week Thursday.

Hlayisani's father Samuel Chauke, who was spitting fire about the incident, said that other children informed his wife late in the afternoon about his child's ordeal. Hlayisani was locked in a classroom while other children went home after school. Chauke further said that his wife, Emily, immediately went to the school where upon arrival she found two teachers sitting under a tree as if nothing has happened. He added that when his wife asked why her child was locked up, one of the teachers allegedly told her "you can go where-ever you can, I do not care about the job."

It later emerged that the child was allegedly assaulted with sticks from 08:00 to 14:00.

"My child told us she was beaten with sticks since early in the morning while other children were watching through the windows. The other children were collecting more sticks from the bush and gave them to the teachers through the windows."

The young girl said that the teacher accused her of stealing R120, which was allegedly missing from her handbag. She said she was beaten, while the vice-principal helped to pull her down and stepped on her neck. The child was allegedly beaten all over her body. The child then went around the schoolyard with the two teachers. In the process they forced her to show them where she hid the money.

Samuel, a self-employed father who supports his family through crop farming, said the two teachers targeted his daughter because she is from a poor family. His concern is that this is not happening for the first time in his family. His other child, Tiphilisi left school in grade seven after he was allegedly attacked in the same manner at Vongani Higher Primary.

Samuel said his attempt to open a case at Saselemane Police Station proved fruitless as the then station commissioner, who was related to the teacher concerned, refused to open a case against the said teacher. However, in this case he says he is happy that he managed to open the case at the same police station. Samuel said the same teacher tried to send some people to bribe him so that he could cancel the case.

When Mirror visited Hlayisani at Malamulele Hospital, on Sunday afternoon, she said MD Chauke told her not to set her foot at school again. Hlayisani who had clear stick marks all over her body was admitted at the hospital from last week Thursday until Tuesday this week.

The Superintendent of Education in the Province, Prof Harry Nengwekhulu, expressed shock when Mirror approached him for comment about the incident. Nengwekhulu, who could not hide his shock, said he was surprised that there are still teachers who could treat children like that, especially in the light of the abolishment of corporal punishment. He also promised to investigate the matter fully so that he could give a detailed proper comment, as he was not aware of the incident until when we approached him.

Meanwhile, Mirror learnt that the 31-year-old teacher would appear in the Saselemane Periodical Court on Thursday (yesterday).