Cape Town – A former Eastern Cape school principal, Lubeko Mgandela, 49, has reportedly been removed from the list of educators in South Africa after he allegedly forced an 11-year-old pupil to sift through human faeces to find a smartphone he had accidentally dropped in a pit toilet last year.
According to News24, Mgandela promised the pupil a reward of R200 if he found the phone. However, when he returned empty-handed, Mgandela handed him R50.
The incident, which happened at Luthuthu Junior Secondary School last year, sparked outrage, prompting calls for Mgandela’s arrest and dismissal, the report said.
Mgandela was called to appear before the Eastern Cape education department’s disciplinary committee for a hearing on May 28, 2021, reported Times Live.
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He was found guilty and was fired by the department.
Mgandela was further charged with child abuse after the charge was changed from attempted murder.
News24 reported that the Tsomo Magistrate’s Court sentenced him to 24 months in prison or a R4 000 fine after he pleaded guilty to child abuse.
He opted for the fine option.
SA Council of Educators (SACE) also invoked his name from the list of educators in the country and further ruled that Mgandela could no longer work with children.
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Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo
