The Teaching Service Commission (TSC) has fired the teacher who allegedly chased the headteacher of St Philomena Primary School with a knife in 2023.
The knife-wielding incident happened on November 30, 2023, at St Philomena Primary School. According to sources, pupils wailed in yandzaleyo as their headteacher was being chased with a knife by the teacher within the school compound.
It is alleged that the headteacher was first attacked while in his office, where he was engaged in his duties.
“The headteacher was accosted by the teacher, who communicated that he wanted to engage him on a number of issues. While inside the office, he questioned the headteacher about supposedly using derogatory words when referring to him in the presence of pupils. He then ordered the headteacher into a corner so that they could engage,” said a source close to the matter.
Thereafter, an altercation reportedly ensued, which resulted in other staff members taking note of what was happening. Two senior staff members intervened and escorted the teacher out of the headteacher’s office to the staffroom, where he continued to express his discontent with his colleagues’ actions.
However, the teacher allegedly returned to the headteacher’s office later wielding a knife, threatening to stab him. The headteacher managed to exit the office, but the teacher pursued him around cars in the compound, forcing him to run to evade being stabbed.
The commotion drew the attention of pupils who were sitting their final examinations, with some leaving their classrooms to witness the rare occurrence. The matter was then reported to the Manzini regional education officer and the police.
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Yesterday, TSC Executive Secretary Nhlanhla Dlamini confirmed that the teacher has since been fired. Dlamini said many teachers remain committed to their work and the commission appreciates their diligence under harsh working conditions. However, he stressed that the TSC will protect the image of the teaching profession by ensuring that anyone who commits such behaviour is held accountable.
“The TSC discovered that this teacher is not fit to be in any school because he wanted to harm a headteacher who was granted a leadership position by government. Those who are thinking of doing something bad to headteachers should refrain from such because the law will take its course,” he said.
Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Secretary General Lot Vilakati confirmed that the teacher had been fired and that they had been representing him during the disciplinary process. He said they would appeal the judgment by the TSC.
He added that the teacher had been on paid suspension since 2023.
“Being violent at the workplace and wielding a knife at people is not encouraged, but once a person gets disciplined we hope that he will change. The teacher has children and parents which is why when they lose their job it becomes a challenge even to the State,” he said.
He added that they would continue representing the teacher until he gets his job back.
