Robertson teacher attacked in alleged homophobic incident

A new teacher at the Masakheke Combined School in Robertson has been verbally abused, physically assaulted and threatened with a knife during an altercation he believes was motivated by homophobia. 


As reported by Cape Times, Thando Dyamara overheard a former student governing body (SGB) member calling him a homophobic slur behind his back. 


“I heard a child calling me a moffie, and I went to reprimand him. I later went to report the incident to his parents, and was met by his mother who was rude and shouted at me. She said her husband would deal with me,” Dyamara explains.


While calling the police to report a case of discrimination, the woman’s husband “appeared out of nowhere” and smacked him with “an open palm”.


“He repeatedly attacked me with a fist, and at that time, I was defenseless,” Dyamara recalls. 


“The husband took out a knife and wanted to stab me. If my friend was not there it would have been a different story. Members of the LGBTI Plus community are not given the respect they need and deserve. The community, especially in Nqubela, even though it is diverse, needs to respect gay people,” he pleaded in conclusion.


Approached for comment by the newspaper, the SGB replied that, because the incident happened off the school’s premises, it “had nothing to do with the school”. 


Bronagh Hammond, the provincial education department spokesperson, said they were informed of the incident, while police spokesperson FC van Wyk said a case of common assault was being investigated. No arrests have been made.