Teacher accused of repeatedly hitting Grade 10 pupil with wooden plank

A Phoenix mother has filed an assault case against a teacher after claiming her 16-year-old daughter was repeatedly struck with a wooden plank at Havenpark Secondary School. The school's governing body denies condoning corporal punishment and the matter has been handed over to the circuit manager. Krishnee Pillay's daughter, a Grade 10 student, experienced severe pain for nearly two weeks after the incident, which allegedly occurred when the pupils were returning to class for a lesson.

Pillay alleges that the teacher hit her daughter and another student multiple times with the plank without warning, causing tissue damage that may take between eight to ten weeks to heal. The teacher reportedly apologized, hugged the daughter, and asked her not to report the incident to staff. Pillay contacted the school's chairperson, who arranged a meeting with the principal.

The principal initially denied the allegations, but after a second meeting with Pillay and her daughter present, the teacher again denied the incident. Pillay then filed an assault case, stating her commitment to protecting her child and seeking accountability to prevent similar occurrences.