MEC vows criminal charges after 17 pupils allegedly assaulted at Gauteng school

<span>MEC vows criminal charges after 17 pupils allegedly assaulted at Gauteng school</span> <span><span>bombeleni_temp</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-09-04T12:35:00+02:00" title="Friday, September 4, 2026 - 12:35">Fri, 09/04/2026 - 12:35</time> </span>

<div class="banner_media_image" >

<div class="media paragraph--view-mode-banner">

<div><script src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/xQS3xGBp-vpvqnhCR.js"></script> </div>

</div> </div>

<div class="teaser_media" ><div>

<div class="image" > <div >

<img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/banner_image/public/2026-09/Assault.png.webp?itok=IrzQwDBS 1x" width="940" height="529" class="image" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/banner_image/public/2026-09/Assault.png.webp?itok=IrzQwDBS 1x" src="/sites/default/files/styles/banner_image/public/2026-09/Assault.png.webp?itok=IrzQwDBS" alt="Erasmus Monareng School Assault" />

</div> </div>

</div> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_36 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.enca.com/news-videos/mec-vows-criminal-charges-after-17-pupils-allegedly-assaulted-gauteng-school" data-a2a-title="MEC vows criminal charges after 17 pupils allegedly assaulted at Gauteng school"><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.enca.com%2Fnews-videos%2Fmec-vows-criminal-charges-after-17-pupils-allegedly-assaulted-gauteng-school&title=MEC%20vows%20criminal%20charges%20after%2017%20pupils%20allegedly%20assaulted%20at%20Gauteng%20school"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"></a></span>

<div> <div>

<div class="text paragraph--view-mode-default">

<div class="text-long"><p>BOKSBURG - What was meant to be a disciplinary measure has sparked outrage at a Vosloorus school, after 17 pupils say they were stripped, slapped and beaten with shoes for arriving late.</p><p>The Gauteng Education Department has confirmed that members of a private security team at Erasmus Monareng Secondary School assaulted the pupils during a search operation.</p><p>The pupils say they were taken to the school’s staffroom, where they were allegedly beaten.</p><blockquote><p><strong>READ: </strong><a href="https://www.enca.com/news-top-stories-videos/learners-allege-brutal-assault-private-security-gauteng-school"><span><strong>Learners allege brutal assault by private security at Gauteng school</strong></span></a></p></blockquote><p>Some pupils claim they were ordered to remove their clothes before being beaten with shoes and slapped when they refused.</p><p>The department has identified members of the private security company who were part of the operation as those allegedly responsible for the assault.</p><p>Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile says criminal charges will be opened against those found to have broken the law.</p><blockquote><p><strong>READ: </strong><a href="https://www.enca.com/news/used-cooking-oil-concoction-sparks-school-health-scare-sebokeng"><span><strong>Used cooking oil concoction sparks school health scare in Sebokeng</strong></span></a></p></blockquote><p>“We condemn corporal punishment in the strongest possible terms,” Maile said.</p><p>While some parents are calling for tougher discipline, corporal punishment is illegal in South Africa.</p><p>“These children are ill-disciplined,” said a parent at the school.</p><p>“Their behaviour is outrageous, teachers themselves can’t do anything with those kids,” he said.</p><blockquote><p><strong>READ: </strong><a href="https://www.enca.com/news/alexandra-school-raid-nets-knives-and-bullets"><strong>Alexandra school raid nets knives and bullets</strong></a></p></blockquote><p>Whatever disciplinary problems schools face, the Education Department says violence against pupils cannot be the answer.</p><p>The incident has also raised questions about accountability, with pupils demanding that those responsible be held accountable.</p><p>The department says investigations are continuing.</p></div>

</div> </div> </div>