By Umamah Bakharia 

A teacher at a high school in Durban is said to have threatened a pupil with a firearm. This was in an effort to maintain discipline in her classroom.

The KwaZulu-Natal education department is probing allegations by parents of pupils that the teacher often points the weapon at learners and her colleagues.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, DA spokesperson for Basic Education in KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Imran Keeka says a parent sent him a message of the allegation which was then reported to the KZN education MEC. 

“Schools are gun-free zones [and] weapon fee zones, learners go there to be in the care of educators who should be providing a safe and conducive classroom environment yet we have them being tortured,” says Dr Keeka.

After the incident, witnesses say parents stormed the school looking to confront the teacher regarding the allegation. However, the teacher seemed to be absent on that day.

“Parent should remember if there is such a thing – no matter how serious the problem is- to approach it with caution, respect and dignity [and] approach the department or the school to follow proper procedures otherwise parents can become victims to the law,” says Dr Keeka.

He says the DA is hopeful that the teacher is suspended and an investigation is underway to determine the exact details of the incident.

Dr Keeka adds that corporal punishment at schools should be probed as well.