Free State teacher charged with assault for pushing pupil
A Free State teacher will have to answer to a charge of assault after he was caught on video violently pushing a pupil.
The teacher, who works at Wessel Maree Secondary School in Odendaalsrus, has since been suspended by the provincial Education Department.
The parents of the boy subsequently laid charges against the teacher.
The video has been widely circulated on social media.
Police spokesperson Stephen Thakeng says the charges were laid at the Odendaalsrus police station on Monday.
READ: Ex Grosvenor High School pupils who experienced racism urged to give evidence
"We can confirm that parents of a learner of one of the schools at Odendaalsrus who appeared on social media being pushed by an educator, laid a charge of assault against the educator.
"This happened in a classroom on the 4 March 2022, when a 14-year-old boy, who is in Grade 8, was pushed by the educator."
The video has caused a stir among residents, with the Congress of South African Students (Cosas) labeling the teacher as racist.
Cosas members picketed outside the school on Monday in support of the pupil.
MORE FROM ECR
