Teacher accused of assaulting student at Henties

A student who has just matriculated and was out celebrating his birthday in Henties Bay was allegedly assaulted by a teacher and his brother this weekend, apparently because of an earlier incident at a rugby match. The teacher from the Elnatan Private School in Stampriet and his brother were both arrested on Saturday night for allegedly assaulting a former student from the Windhoek Gymnasium private school. Xico Coetzee, 19, who matriculated this year. Red card The assault apparently stems from an incident between Coetzee and the teacher when Coetzee was handed a red card during a rugby match earlier this year. In the heat of the moment insults, obscenities and apparently even threats were exchanged between Coetzee, the Elnatan teacher and Elnatan’s principal. Elnatan teachers wrote a report about the incident and Coetzee was banned from participating in any sport for the time being. However, after Coetzee gave his version of what happened during the match, the incident was apparently dropped. On Saturday Coetzee was celebrating his birthday and after spending some time with his father, Piet Coetzee, they went to Henties Bay where he met up with some friends at the Lapa. According to Piet Coetzee, his son was completely sober and was still holding his first drink when the assault happened. Coetzee Senior told Namibian Sun that his son was hit from behind and someone pulled him by his shirt. “Xico at first thought that it was one of his friends. The guy told him ‘Don’t you remember me? Can you not remember me?’ When Xico said he did not know him, the teacher of Elnatan reminded him of the rugby incident. “Xico told him that he had nothing to do with him and wanted to leave. However the brother of the teacher struck him from the side.” According to Coetzee Senior, his son fell against a gate sustained several minor injuries. Teacher drink with pupils Police officers who were standing outside the Lapa arrested the two men and a charge of assault was made against them. They will appear in the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court today. Coetzee stressed that he had put the rugby incident behind him. “It happened and we have moved on, but he [the teacher] has obviously not forgotten about this.” According to Coetzee the teacher was drinking with other learners from Elnatan. “He is supposed to be a role model for the learners. He is in his thirties and he is coming at a student. Why does he not take on someone of his own age?”