The situation of a learner allegedly assaulted by two male teachers at the Moemedi Secondary School in Bloemfontein in 2022 appears irreversible.
Mosa Gailele underwent another critical surgery on his left ear at Mediclinic Bloemfontein on Thursday, 30th January.
This surgery followed the first performed at the Busamed Bram Fischer Private Hospital during October 2022. He was in Gr. 8 at the time of the reported assault by the two teachers, who are still working at the school in question, as full-time employees of the Free State’s Department of Education.
It is believed the blows suffered punctured Mosa’s eardrum, resulting in the loss of hearing in his left ear. The two teachers are not facing criminal charges for assault occasioning grievous bodily harm (GBH).
The distressed Josephine Gailele, the boy’s mother, said the latest surgery was a concerted effort by surgeons to try and restore Mosa’s loss of hearing.
“Mosa had serious complications, and was constantly complaining about pain in the affected ear and his difficulty hearing. He has not recovered from the assault. The surgeon who assessed and performed the surgery, indicated that Mosa would require a hearing device,” said Gailele.
Leading to the surgery, she said there was an unpleasant smell and discharge from the boy’s ear.
Gailele laments the severity of the assault, its effects on her personally, and the escalating financial costs that have gone on to affect Mosa.
“The incident is draining me financially, psychologically, and emotionally. Bearing in mind Mosa was admitted for depression last year and recommended for counselling.
“He performed badly at school and he is now repeating Gr. 10 because he failed dismally. Mosa’s assault has made my life unbearable,” said Gailele.
She said she had difficulty in having him enrolled at another school due to the regulation of the Department of Education that Gr. 10 learners may not change schools as it may disrupt their studies and affect their academic performance.
According to Gailele, he is at a different school this year.
At the time of the assault, Mosa was one of three boys accused of inappropriately touching a female learner.
It is claimed the two teachers who responded to the incident, did so aggressively. The teachers, whose identities are known at the school, allegedly locked the boys in a room, where they were subjected to corporal punishment.
However, information gathered from meetings involving parents, the school’s management, and the school governing body (SGB) did not provide evidence of Mosa’s participation in the incident involving the girl.
