Tuesday, 11 March 2025
SADTU IN FREE STATE CONDEMNS THE ATTACK ON A TEACHER BY A LEARNER
The South African Democratic Teachers Union in the Free State strongly condemns the brutal attack on a teacher at Kgabareng Secondary School in Viljoenskroon on Monday, 10 March 2025.
We are reliably informed that the educator, who is the Regional Secretary of SADTU in the Northern Region, was reprimanding learners for arriving late when the 21-year Grade 10 boy learner became agitated and stabbed the educator on the shoulder.
We are grateful that the educator received immediate medical attention, was taken to the hospital, and has since been discharged. We commend the police for their swift response in arresting the learner, who fled the scene after committing this crime. He is currently in the custody and is expected to appear in the Viljoenskroon Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 12 March 2025.
As SADTU, we call on the law enforcement agencies to ensure that the perpetrator receives the harshest sentence befitting the crime.
As a country, we cannot afford to lose good educators because of learners who attend school with motives other than learning. Our schools are not battle fields where hooligans can freely engage in criminal activities.
Furthermore, call on the School Governing Body and the Free State Department of Education to take the necessary disciplinary action against this learner who has shown blatant disregard for educators.
We also urge the Department of Education to provide psycho-socio support to the affected teacher, fellow colleagues, and learners at the school.
The union remains deeply concerned that dangerous weapons are still being found in the possession of learners, while educators have nothing but their hands to defend themselves. We firmly believe that the Department of Education must take the issue of safety in schools more seriously, as such incidents may encourage further attacks on educators. We call on parents to work with schools to ensure that our institutions remain safe havens where quality teaching and learning can take place unhindered.
ISSUED BY PROVINCIAL SECRETARIAT