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DECISIVE: Mpumalanga MEC for education Reginah Mhlaule yesterday said the teacher who allegedly assaulted a seven-year-old boy, who died, at Sidlemu Primary School in Mangweni Trust near Tonga had been discharged. PHOTO: SIBONGILE MASHABA

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The 46-year-old teacher, Sibongile Monica Mashaba, was suspended on June 15 but subsequently handed in her resignation on June 18.

However, MEC for education Reginah Mhlaule said the teacher has been discharged in terms of the Employment of Educators Act.

The Act stipulates that an educator appointed in permanent capacity who - while suspended from duty - resigns, shall unless the employer directs otherwise, be deemed to have been discharged from service on account of misconduct.

The department has directed the Ehlanzeni district director to terminate Mashaba's employment.

"This simply means that this teacher (Mashaba) will at no stage be employed in public service to work with children in accordance with the Children's Act of 2005."

The teacher may find herself locked out of the system after the South African Council for Educators (Sace) said they would tag her.

"She is still registered with us. We will follow our investigation. For now, we have nothing against her," said Sace communications manager Themba Ndhlovu, adding his organisation viewed the matter in a serious light.

"We will tag her on our system. This will ensure that wherever she goes to seek employment, they will have to verify with us and we would then be able to tell them (the person enquiring about Mashaba) that she has a pending case with us."

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A FATHER'S SAD WORDS: "This has been hard on us" - Click here to read about it..

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Mhlaule said this should send a clear message to teachers who continue to practice corporal punishment, that "we will find out and deal decisively with them".

She said a report compiled by the department's director of labour relations Willie Kutumela revealed that: "There is a probability that the late learner was beaten by the teacher concerned who further instructed some learners to also do so on her behalf."

Pupil Sebenele Ndlovu was allegedly assaulted with a broomstick on June 4 for missing school on June 1.

He died at his home on June 8 as a result of injuries.

Sebenele's aunt Mary Mlangeni said the teacher's resignation should be seen as a "guilty plea".

"This just proves that she did it. Why did she resign if she knows that she is not guilty," Mlangeni asked. "She should have faced the (internal) charges."

Sebenele's father Solomon Ndlovu said the family was not happy with the way police were handling the case.

Mpumalanga police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Leonard Hlathi said the police were still busy with investigations. "The teacher was arrested and appeared in court.

"The prosecutor declined to prosecute because of lack of evidence. Once we are done with our investigations, the docket will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision on whether to prosecute or not."

- mashabas@sowetan.co.za

Comments

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Thu May 23 21:55:57 SAST 2013 ::

Jun 26, 2012

malemaforpresident

The parents of the child must just kiill her ga ba mo loye once
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Jun 26, 2012

Papage

whether you guys Tag her or not, will never bring the child back, she must pay for her wrongs, get into her pockets, money she was surpose to receive for her pension pay out must at least be given to the child family and the department of education must assist that family to cope with this incident, not only that, there is a lot of educational problems in Mpumalanga that needs your attention, you only seem to be functioning when someone passes on and the rest are just jokes to you, look at the Minister, she looks like someone who know s her duties and she does nothing for the school children, the police, what do you want on the photo shoot, go catch criminals out there and stop acting like you are working.
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Jun 26, 2012

Shredder

I am sure wa itshola nou. When I was a standard 4(now grade 6), one teacher beat up our classmate so hard. He tried to run away, but the teacher grabbed him, picked him up and threw him on the ground. The class was so quite, we were all terrified. The scumbag once slapped me so hard I thought I had swollen eye. Kikikiki. Mpama ya patrek jong!!
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Jun 26, 2012

Mokwepa

@Shredder
dont say that, i was that teacher and i m now a pesnioner. i remember de insident. ho ho ho .. looke were u are today Shredderest!!! its because mpama ya patrek.
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Jun 26, 2012

Shredder

Mokwepa - "looke were u are today Shredderest!!! its because mpama ya patrek."
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Personally, I am not against corporal punishment. I am against excessive beating of a child. Agg nee, I remember now. The incident I am talking about, that guy threw that boy against the wall. The one of another throwing a pupil to the ground was a different incident.
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Jun 26, 2012

Mzanzibar

why is she not in jail?! if not for murder, then for assualt.
what does being barred do? if she doesnt get a job in the province she will get it else where and she will continue with her killing spree.
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Jun 26, 2012

MAARKENG-JANONG

Nou die man wa ko Correctional Services yena o batlang ko Press conference le MEC? Or ba jola? you never know!!!!!!
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Jun 26, 2012

maneater

i want to comment on this but i cannot do it without using vulgar words. so i will reserve my comments.
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Jun 26, 2012

Mpolayeng

Give me R150.00 I will not hesitate to cut her throat
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Jun 26, 2012

Adv_G

I think the time is now to have some rigid rules whereby a person who attempts to commit a wrongful deed know that by his own will or choice he/she bear the consequences of such...this teacher must not teach at all not only in the province where the act was committed.. but South Africa in its entirely.
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