Sans Souci teacher in slap video cleared of charge

The National Prosecuting Authority has dropped the common assault charge, against the Sans Souci Girls’ High Grade 9 teacher, Clarissa Venter, who slapped a pupil during a classroom altercation. The incident caused havoc as people on social media went berserk after a fellow pupil in the same class took a video and posted it on social media. The video showed Venter pushing and smacking the student.

The Prosecutors announced the decision to drop the charges at the Wynberg Magistrate Court. Venters lawyer William Booth said “the chief prosecutor withdrew the common assault charge on the merits. That means they have dropped charges based on the evidence and what led to the incident”. The court ruled that the teacher was provoked and attacked and acted lawfully Clarissa Venter said the student refused to leave class and she kept on using her phone. The prosecutor says “they took into account that Miss Venter has been through a significant amount of stress and trauma with court appearances and social media and media exposure. She also had to go through a disciplinary hearing before she could return to teaching”.

By Chuma Matiwane