{
  "id": 4811284,
  "title": "Teachers demand action following urine-throwing incident at Joburg school",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/teachers-demand-action-following-urine-throwing-incident-at-joburg",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T07:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/education/teachers-demand-action-urine-throwing-incident-joburg-school/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Grade 7 student at Laerskool Generaal De La Rey primary school in Johannesburg hurled a container of urine at a female teacher last month, violating her dignity and adding to a series of increasing incidents of violence at the school. In response, the teachers have united with their South African Teachers’ Union (SAOU) union, expressing their concern over the hostile and unsafe working conditions at the school. They claim the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has not taken any steps to help them.\n\nThe SAOU spokesperson, Dems Nel, stated that the escalation of violence in schools, particularly against teachers, is unacceptable. The union has officially attended the school to assist the affected teachers, who have faced verbal abuse, threats, and the recent urine-throwing incident. Nel further revealed that a school official had even advised teachers to handle the situation themselves instead of receiving support.\n\nThe female teacher is currently dealing with severe illness in her family, adding to her stress. Nel emphasized that such awful conduct only exacerbates the psychological burden on teachers. SAOU has submitted formal grievances to the GDE, demanding urgent action to address the hostile working conditions and launch an investigation into the GDE official who made unprofessional remarks.\n\nThe Gauteng Department of Education confirmed they were aware of the alleged bullying incident and stated that it was reported to their department, receiving attention. They mentioned that the school governing body is currently handling disciplinary processes in line with the South African Schools Act, and district officials, including a school safety official, are aiding the school in the suspension process and issuing letters to the alleged perpetrators. The department is also providing psychosocial support to the affected pupil and other students involved in the group. Lubhelwana also confirmed that the department would intensify its school safety operation following recent searches in Gauteng, recovering various prohibited items from school premises.",
  "summary": "SAOU has accused the Gauteng education department of failing to protect teachers after a pupil allegedly assaulted an educator.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}