MORE than 200 angry parents disrupted a primary school in Klipgat, North West on Monday, 19 February.
This after they accused a teacher of bullying a grade 7 pupil who committed suicide at home, allegedly after being chased out of class.
The 13-year-old Rehomoditswe Baloyi hanged himself at his home, which is only 2km from the school on Friday, 16 February.
It's alleged the teacher, whom parents accused of emotionally abusing the pupil, had several other complaints laid against him for alleged bullying and mistreating pupils.
The parents flocked to Phutha Primary School on Monday, causing chaos and disrupting classes. This led to pupils being sent home early.
During Daily Sun's visit to the school, police were called to disperse the angry parents who had locked the accused teacher and other teachers in the staffroom.
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Cops were forced to break the lock and escort teachers out of the school. Parents were swearing at the teacher and cops.
When tear gas and rubber bullets were shot, parents and pupils were seen throwing stones at police vehicles inside and outside the school.
More than 10 people were hurt and transported to a nearby clinic, while two police vans were damaged.
Moris Nkomo, the chairman of the school governing body, said the situation worsened due to the endless complaints from pupils that the teacher was allegedly assaulting them.
"More than 20 complaints of verbal and emotional abuse, and the teacher using their family backgrounds to discourage them and inappropriately comparing them to her situation and her children who are in varsity, were heard," he said.
He said they would address the issue and ensure that schools resumed, and the pupils' safety was not jeopardised.
Parent Mmadipholo Molefe told the Daily Sun the government had failed them because they had laid complaints but to no avail.
"The school will remain shut until the teacher and principal are removed from the school," she said.
She said they refused to lose any more pupils.
This is a developing story . . .
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