• A Mpumalanga teacher has been released on bail after allegedly assaulting the mother of his child with a wooden pole. 
• A video of the alleged incident went viral on social media. 
• Gender-based violence increased dramatically since the government declared a national state of disaster. 

The 34-year-old Mpumalanga man who was arrested last week for allegedly violently assaulting a woman in a video that went viral on social media has been released on bail.

Thomas Jabu Manana, a teacher at a local high school in KwaMhlanga, is alleged to have inflicted severe wounds on the 24-year-old mother of his child on 2 July.

He was arrested on 5 July and charged with three counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, News24 reported. 

He appeared in the KwaMhlanga Magistrate's Court on Friday and was released on bail. 

"In a statement, the victim indicated that she went with her sister to the suspect's place to fetch her 4-year-old girl. An argument broke between the two, whereupon the suspect... assaulted her with a wooden pole and other means. During the fuss, the sister of the victim, as well as her child, also sustained injuries, hence the three counts," police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said. 

Police were notified about the incident and the man was immediately arrested.

Mpumalanga provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma welcomed the speedy arrest and commended the police for their swift action. 

On 16 June, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the criminal justice system would remain focused on gender-based violence cases

Gender-based violence increased dramatically since the government declared a national state of disaster.