Cape Town - An attorney speaking on behalf of the family of a black Grade 9 learner who was allegedly racially, physically abused and cyberbullied by a white learner at Curro Somerset West High School said the family was disappointed by a lack of action from the school.
The pupil has not attended school for two weeks because of the trauma.
This as police were called to intervene when members of the Congress of South African Students (Cosas) on Tuesday demanded a meeting with the school principal over the allegations.
An official instead said he was instructed to let them know that they had no right to be on the school premises. Security guards from a private company were called and minutes later police also arrived and intervened in the matter.
While the school told the Cape Times they were aware of the matter but would not comment, Cosas leadership vowed to be back at the institution on Wednesday.
Attorney for the pupil’s family, Unathi Mbebe, said she wrote to the school and the head of their legal department promised to provide her with a report on the matter, which she has not received.
“The school did not do anything about the incident. They said they have called the perpetrator and addressed the issue but the perpetrator continued to remain on the premises and she even plays netball.”
She said the victim was allegedly physically assaulted on her arm during netball training at the school.
“She also received threatening messages from the perpetrator and that resulted in her not attending the school for fear of her safety she decided to just stay home.
“I wrote a letter to the head of the school asking her why she took the decision she did, why does it seem that she is promoting a culture of bullying in the school, and how was a child, according to the school conduct not suspended with immediate effect?
“The letter was escalated to the head of the legal department and they replied to me that they will provide the substantiated report. To date, the report has not come. As we speak the child is currently not at school,” said Mbebe.
Cosas Provincial Secretary Mphumzi Giwu said they were disappointed by an alleged lack of disciplinary action taken by the school.
“The learner is still sitting at home traumatised and suffering,” said Giwu.
Enquiries to Curro’s head office were not responded to by the time of publication.
Cape Times