A disagreement between two female deputy principals at a Gauteng school escalated into a bloody altercation, when one allegedly assaulted the other using office equipment.
The provincial education department confirmed yesterday that it was investigating the incident after one of the deputy principals at Asser Maloka Secondary School in Duduza township on the East Rand was injured.
Yesterday, a Grade 10 pupil who witnessed the alleged attack said they were inside the administration office when she overheard the two deputy principals arguing.
"One of them was complaining that the other one had been gossiping about her. Then, all of a sudden, she stood up and hit her on the forehead with a paper punch. Her skin was ripped open and there was blood gushing out," the pupil said.
She said the deputy then continued to hit her colleague with a laptop across the face.
"The other deputy was screaming for help. The receptionist had to run out of the office to get help. It was really scary," she said.
A teacher who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation expressed shock.
"It was chaotic. I could see blood inside that room," the teacher said.
She said they were, however, surprised that the perpetrator was still reporting to work after what happened.
"We are made to work with a person who hurt her colleague. As a teacher at the school I don't feel safe," she said.
The teacher said the school qualified for a second deputy principal as they have a large number of pupils. She said the offender had only been appointed a few months ago.
"We have never seen such a thing at the school. This woman has only been here for less than six months and look what is happening," the teacher said.
Another staff member said: "I was shocked to hear about what happened. They are both respectable people. I wasn't expecting that."
Provincial education department spokesperson Steve Mabona said their officials were dispatched to the school to investigate what had occurred while both deputies were on leave.
Mabona said disciplinary proceedings would unfold.
"We implore educators to always lead by example to ensure that learners mirror their conduct in creating a safe schooling environment," he said.
Deputy principals in a violent fight
A disagreement between two female deputy principals at a Gauteng school escalated into a bloody altercation, when one allegedly assaulted the other using office equipment.
The provincial education department confirmed yesterday that it was investigating the incident after one of the deputy principals at Asser Maloka Secondary School in Duduza township on the East Rand was injured.
Yesterday, a Grade 10 pupil who witnessed the alleged attack said they were inside the administration office when she overheard the two deputy principals arguing.
"One of them was complaining that the other one had been gossiping about her. Then, all of a sudden, she stood up and hit her on the forehead with a paper punch. Her skin was ripped open and there was blood gushing out," the pupil said.
She said the deputy then continued to hit her colleague with a laptop across the face.
"The other deputy was screaming for help. The receptionist had to run out of the office to get help. It was really scary," she said.
A teacher who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation expressed shock.
"It was chaotic. I could see blood inside that room," the teacher said.
She said they were, however, surprised that the perpetrator was still reporting to work after what happened.
"We are made to work with a person who hurt her colleague. As a teacher at the school I don't feel safe," she said.
The teacher said the school qualified for a second deputy principal as they have a large number of pupils. She said the offender had only been appointed a few months ago.
"We have never seen such a thing at the school. This woman has only been here for less than six months and look what is happening," the teacher said.
Another staff member said: "I was shocked to hear about what happened. They are both respectable people. I wasn't expecting that."
Provincial education department spokesperson Steve Mabona said their officials were dispatched to the school to investigate what had occurred while both deputies were on leave.
Mabona said disciplinary proceedings would unfold.
"We implore educators to always lead by example to ensure that learners mirror their conduct in creating a safe schooling environment," he said.
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