The government is investigating a case in which a Grade 1 pupil at a school in Windhoek was allegedly assaulted by the father of one of his classmates last week.
The boy (7), whose identity cannot be revealed due to his age, was hospitalised at the Windhoek Central Hospital following the assault.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare as well as the Ministry of Education Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture say they are investigating the alleged assault and condemn school violence.
The father allegedly beat the boy after his son was slapped by the boy for allegedly urinating on him at school on Thursday.
The boy confirmed this to The Namibian yesterday.
The classmate’s father, upon discovering his son crying when he went to pick him up from school, went on to assault the minor.
According to the boy’s family, the man allegedly beat him on his buttocks and genitals, causing swelling.
The Namibian could not get comment from the accused by the time of going to print.
The ministry’s deputy executive director of schools and formal education, Edda Bohn, has condemned the incident, saying her office will investigate the matter and act within the legal provisions.
“Schools must be safe learning environments and, hence, the ministry condemns any form of violence at schools,” she says.
Minister of gender equality and child welfare Emma Kantema yesterday said no circumstance justifies violence against a child, and adults who perpetrate or enable such acts will face the full force of justice.
She said such behaviour constitutes a violation of the child’s rights and is prohibited under the Child Care and Protection Act.
“The Namibian law prioritises the safety and dignity of all, including children. The act criminalises any assault, ill-treatment or neglect of a child by an adult.
The act mandates the protection of every child from all forms of violence, abuse or maltreatment,” she said.
Kantema said the ministry is liaising with all parties involved to ensure swift action.
She urged parents, guardians and educators to report child abuse cases to the ministry, the Childline/Lifeline hotline and the nearest police station.
During a visit to the hospital yesterday, The Namibian was shown X-rays highlighting injuries to the boy’s back and buttocks.
“I slapped him on his face because he peed on me.
His father beat me on my buttocks and penis two times,” the minor said yesterday.
The boy’s aunt, who cannot be named to protect him, says she was not at home when the minor arrived from school after the incident.
She says the minor is usually playful and happy, but that day he was neither.
“When I went home, he said he had pain in his stomach. At night he started crying and that’s when we saw his genitals were swollen.
We took him to the hospital and he has been hospitalised ever since,” she says.
The aunt says she went to the school yesterday, where the teachers allegedly protected the classmate’s father, refusing to provide his name and claiming that he only beat the boy twice on his buttocks.
“How did my nephew’s genitals get swollen if he did not beat him? They are protecting the man.
He needs to face the consequences,” she says.
She says they are going to open a case with the police.
The boy’s mother and the school principal could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print.
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