By Nontobeko
The Gauteng Department of Education says the six-year-old who was allegedly punched by his Grade R teacher at a Joburg primary school was injured fighting with a classmate.
The department said an investigation into the incident had concluded that no teacher was involved in the punch-up.
The preschooler, Thabani*, was admitted to Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital on Wednesday, the day the assault occurred. On Friday he had an operation to repair his broken jaw - an injury the department says was sustained during "a fight between two learners during the second break".
"The boys hit each other with shoes and that is how the injuries were sustained.
"The investigation concluded that no educator was involved in punching any learner. The parents of the boy who inflicted the damage confirmed that their child was fighting back after he was hit by the other learner, a statement which was corroborated by other children in class," said the department's spokesman, Charles Phahlane.
According to medical records, Thabani, who has a twin brother in the same class, was taken to hospital by his grandmother. She told the medics that her grandchild had been "assaulted by his school teacher, physically with a fist".
The records say the pupil's "right jawline was slightly swollen with red discolouration, lower lip also swollen..."
Thabani's uncle opened a case of assault against the teacher and also laid a complaint with the Department of Education.
He rebuked the department's investigation, saying the twins had no reason to lie about their teacher.
"They (the department) are protecting the teacher. How can another six-year-old break another child's jaw and then he lands in hospital?
"This is a false investigation. I'm pressing forward with the criminal charges and I'll see these people in court," said the uncle, who cannot be named to protect the child.
The department said the matter would be concluded today and the twins and their guardians would meet with the school to discuss the outcome of the investigation.
- Thabani is not the child's real name. The school has also not been identified, to protect the child's identity.