The Botswana Teachers Union (BTU) is not letting claims made by Education Minister Nono Kgafela Mokoka slide without a fight.

In a media statement released this weekend, the Union called out the Minister over comments she made during a Kgotla meeting in Digawana on April 11, 2025 — comments that have since gone viral on social media.

In the video, the Minister alleges that a student in Selibe-Phikwe was beaten by five teachers and ended up in the hospital. Directly quoting the video, BTU pointed to the Minister saying: “…ngwana a dikilwe ke mathichara a le matlhano, ngwana a bo a ya go robadiwa ko sepatela…”

BTU says it took the matter seriously and quickly launched an investigation through its Selibe-Phikwe Regional Committee. According to BTU President Gotlamang Oitsile, no such incident occurred, and there is no record of a student being hospitalised due to teacher-inflicted punishment in the region.

“These kinds of remarks can seriously damage the reputation of hardworking teachers and put a dent in the great progress we’ve made in Selibe-Phikwe,” said Oitsile.