School principle charged with attempted murder for coercing a 4th grader to retrieve his phone in toilet pit.

 The principal of Luthuthu Primary School in Ugie, Eastern Cape appeared in the Nqanqarha (Maclear) Magistrates court on Tuesday for attempted murder.

Spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Education Department Vuyiseka Mboxela confirmed that the 46 year old man told an 11-year-old pupil to search for the cellphone which had fallen into the toilet.

The incident reportedly happened in the first week of march.  Petros Majola, an activist from the Khula Community Development Project, said they wanted the principal to be dismissed and for his name to be removed from the council for educators.  He said the child should be given counselling services.

The learner’s grandmother told GroundUp that she is happy that the matter is getting attention and that the suspect will be accountable.She said it has been hard on her grandchild to go to school because he has been laughed at by other pupils.

Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade said that the department is working closely with the Department of Social Development to offer the learner and his family support.

Photo: Susan Secretea 

By Everngelista Muza