A 62-year-old teacher from Teto Secondary School in Thabong, Welkom was allegedly stabbed multiple times at her home in Dagbreek on 23 September 2026. The incident left the educator hospitalised with serious injuries to her head and hands.
According to Free State SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Palesa Thabana, police are investigating cases of attempted murder, robbery with a weapon other than a firearm, and residential burglary linked to the attack. “Without compromising ongoing police investigations, we can confirm that investigations are still underway,” she stated.
The alleged attacker is reported to be a Grade 11 learner who reportedly hid inside the teacher’s property before the assault. However, this remains an untested allegation as no court outcome has been published to confirm the student’s involvement.
Free State Education MEC Mamiki Maboya condemned the attack, saying, “We are appalled and deeply saddened by this cowardly and barbaric attack on one of our most seasoned educators – a mother and grandmother who has given almost four decades of her life to shaping the future of this province.” She added, “An attack on an educator is an attack on the entire education system and on the future of our children.”
The Free State Department of Education confirmed that a criminal case has been opened and promised support for the teacher and her family through the Lejweleputswa Education District.
The incident highlights a growing concern about safety for educators in South Africa. The Department of Basic Education relies on the National School Safety Framework and cooperation between schools and police rather than a dedicated national educator-safety strategy.
Data from the Western Cape Education Department shows that there were 43 cases of learners assaulting teachers in the first two terms of 2025, a decrease from 56 in the same period in 2024. Weapon-related assaults in the Western Cape also fell from six to four between these periods. Despite these declines, unions warn against normalising violence against teachers. SADTU emphasised, “Violence against educators must never be normalised or treated as merely a disciplinary matter. Where criminal conduct has occurred, the relevant law-enforcement agencies must be involved.”
DBE Acting Director of Communications Terence Khala said, “A school is a workplace as much as it is a place of learning, and educators have a right to carry out their professional responsibilities in an environment in which their safety and dignity are protected.”
The attack in Welkom is part of a troubling pattern that affects educators and undermines the learning environment across the country. Authorities continue investigations and are expected to provide updates as the case progresses.