JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng Education Department has confirmed that a grade eight pupil stabbed a teacher at Hoërskool Die Burger in Randburg.
The student has been apprehended.
Police and parents have been notified of the incident.
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Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said that a police case has been opened, and both police and the school governing body (SGB) are investigating.
Mabona said the teacher is recuperating at home on leave, while the child will likely face a seven-day suspension before a disciplinary hearing.
In a separate incident, a 21-year-old grade ten pupil has stabbed a teacher at Kgabareng Secondary School in Viljoenskroon, in the Free State.
The pupil was reportedly "furious" at being confronted about his late arrival.
The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) in the Free State has condemned the attack, noting that the teacher involved is the Regional Secretary of Sadtu in the Northern Region.
Mabona commented on the apparent increase in violent incidents at school, saying, "We have a parenting problem; looking at the number of incidents in the country, we have a challenge."
"These children come from society and if they are not disciplined at home, they will be then ill-disciplined at school."
The SGB has a code of conduct for discipline, but parental support is crucial to ensure student discipline and school safety, Mabona added.
He described support programmes organised by the government, ‘’We have an employee wellness programme which is supporting all our employees so we will come closely to them and also send support team to learners."
Mabona states that SGB plays a crucial role in governing the school, supporting school management, and assisting teachers to ensure the school's effective functioning.
As these violent incidents escalate, there's an urgent need for effective solutions to safeguard teachers and students in schools.
By Tshenolo Khaile