MIDDELBURG – A school teacher who forcefully cut the braided hair of a learner has been suspended.
The teacher, captured in a video that has gone viral on social media channels, is shown pulling the learner’s braids and cutting them with scissors in full view of other learners during a class.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, August 21, at LD Moetanalo Secondary School in Mhluzi, Extension 6.
The Mpumalanga Department of Education confirmed on Thursday afternoon that the teacher has been placed on precautionary suspension. Spokesperson Gerald Sambo said the department decided to institute the precautionary suspension with immediate effect while the investigation into the circumstances that led to this incident unfolds.
“Teachers are expected to conduct themselves appropriately and professionally as guided by their professional ethics and conduct according to the South African Council of Educators; hence this conduct is deemed inappropriate,” Sambo said. “They are supposed to be mindful of the Bill of Rights and always act in the best interests of learners.”
The mother of the girl, Grace Mokoena, informed Highveld Chronicle that the incident had a profound psychological impact on her 16-year-old daughter, who is in Grade 9. “My child has been deeply affected by the incident, especially with the attention she received on social media. I found myself constantly checking on her at night, consumed by the fear of what she might do due to her escalating anxiety,” she expressed. “I am still at a loss as to why the teacher subjected my child to such treatment. I believe it would be beneficial for me to have a candid conversation with her, woman to woman, to gain some insight into her actions.”
Sambo further mentioned that the department will arrange psychological counselling for the student and other affected students.
The Congress of South African Students (COSAS) also commented, stating that the school’s regulations do not mention any restrictions on hairstyles. “After reviewing their code of conduct, we found no such provisions. Thus, we express our strong disapproval of the teacher’s actions yesterday,” he remarked. “The teacher must be held accountable for the uncivilised conduct displayed yesterday.”
Community member Lerato Mabena expressed the community’s disquiet over the incident, emphasising the need for the Department of Education to implement additional safeguards to prevent such occurrences in the future. “As a concerned member of the community and a parent, I urge that the teacher face consequences that serve as a deterrent to others who may contemplate similar actions,” she said.
