- A Panorama parent has filed a police report against her eight-year-old son’s drumming teacher for allegedly hitting the boy with a drumstick during a lesson.
- The alleged incident was witnessed by the boy’s older brother.
- His mother says it led to visible bruises and the child needed counseling.
A Panorama parent has opened a case with the police against her eight-year-old son’s drumming teacher, following an alleged assault on the boy earlier this month.
The parent, who may not be named to protect the identity of the child, claims that the teacher had hit her son with a drum stick against his waist on Monday 10 June during one of the classes.
Her son attended private drumming lessons offered by the drumming teacher at Curro Brackenfell.
The family drives to Brackenfell once a week for drumming lessons, however the boy has since been taken out of the class.
“The drumming teacher struck my eight-year-old around his waist with wooden drumsticks off his chair on the 10 June. Luckily, my older son (10) was with him to witness this.
“We reported it immediately to the staff and he said that he just tapped my boy and that they were lying,” the mother explained.
She claims that her child was crying and that he had pain.
She also sent images of the bruises.
Since the incident, her son has gone for counselling, she says. “We have to pick up the broken pieces and send my son for counselling.”
Assault charge investigated
The mother first reported the matter to the police in Parow, but the case was then transferred to the police station in Brackenfell.
TygerBurger has also received a copy of the statement, submitted to the police. Capt Nowonga Sukwana, provincial police spokesperson, confirmed that a case had been opened.
The mother has also been in communication with the staff at Curro Brackenfell. TygerBurger reached out to the school last week. “Curro confirms that an incident, unrelated to any learners or permanent staff members, has occurred. The group maintains a zero-tolerance policy on matters concerning the well-being and safety of our learners, staff, and community. As a result, any relationship with the involved party has been terminated,” JP le Roux, executive head at Curro Brackenfell, responded.
The newspaper had sent an email to the teacher, Kurt Jansen, requesting him to explain his side of the story, in his own words. The newspaper also spoke to him telephonically in which he discussed what had happened, however later in the day he indicated that he wishes not to give any comment. “My response and side to this story is, no comment.”
He referred TygerBurger to his lawyers. TygerBurger could not get hold of the lawyers on the number provided by Jansen. At time of print they had also not responded to the messages left by TygerBurger.
