Statement by Yongama Zigebe, UDM Secretary General
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) welcomes the ruling of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein regarding the case involving the South African Council of Educators.
This case pertained to two teachers who administered corporal punishment to two primary school students. In one instance, a teacher struck a student across the cheek with a PVC pipe, resulting in the student requiring emergency surgery.
It is reported that, according to a report released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), almost half of the children who have encountered violence in schools reside in the Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and North West provinces.
The report indicates that a greater proportion of children nationwide reported experiencing corporal punishment by a teacher between 2009 and 2019.
The UDM expresses disappointment and concern over reports of corporal punishment persisting in schools throughout some provinces. The party urges learners who have experienced such incidents to come forward and report them.
Issued by:
Mr Yongama Zigebe
Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement
