The South African Council for Educators (SACE) has terminated the services of a student teacher who allegedly mocked a student who later committed suicide, but the pupil’s family remains unaware of her identity.
The family believes that confronting the student teacher is the first step toward healing.
The Gauteng education department issued a statement on Friday stating that SACE was investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Tiro Moalusi, a Grade 9 student at PJ Simelane Secondary School.
According to department spokesperson Steve Mabona, the student teacher has been relieved of her duties, and that “the SACE investigator has already interacted with our district officials to assist with the investigation.”
Moalusi’s family learned about the relocation from News24, but they have no idea who the student teacher is.
Masingita Khosa, his aunt, said the department contacted the family earlier this week to request a meeting.
“On Tuesday, we were summoned to the school so that the department could take our statement. They did not inform us of the next steps or provide any information about the student teacher.
“We have yet to see this teacher. We’ve been told that the Friday Tiro died was the teacher’s last day. We’re not sure if this means the teacher has finished with practicals or has been suspended “Khosa stated.
She went on to say that the school principal insisted on not knowing which university the student teacher was attending.
“We have no information about this teacher. The principal claims he first noticed the teacher after we informed him of the incident. He stated that the teacher was hired by the human resources department and that he had no idea who the teacher was “Khosa stated.
Moalusi left his mother’s home in Slovoville for school on August 16, according to Khosa.
The day went on as usual, but things changed when the teen arrived at the last school period.
The student teacher is said to have called him during that time “ngwanyana abuti’ (sissy boy), which made her and the rest of the class laugh.
He allegedly continued to laugh when he confronted the student teacher about the incident and told her how it made him feel.
Moalusi approached the class teacher after receiving no apology. However, the issue was never escalated to the principal or department head.
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