Johannesburg - A 16-year-old Grade 10 pupil in Roodepoort is afraid of going to school after an alleged bullying incident where her hair was pulled out and she was left bruised and humiliated.
The mother of the pupil from Princess High School in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg, wants justice after her daughter was assaulted and humiliated by four female pupils.
The mother said the incident happened on Tuesday last week (September 6).
The mother told The Star that what was more disturbing was that the tourism teacher, who was present in the class when the incident took place, allegedly did not intervene.
“She instead left the class,” the mother said.
She said after the teacher had allegedly left the class, the girls dragged her daughter outside and continued to assault her.
The mother further alleged that two male pupils touched her daughter inappropriately when her alleged attackers lifted her skirt.
“My child came home crying. She is traumatised and afraid of going back to school, fearing that some learners will mock her. My daughter is not a trouble-maker, she is a victim and I want the perpetrators to face discipline,” said the mother.
She said all pupils involved in the fight, including her child, should submit statements of what had transpired.
She said on Wednesday she went to the school to find out for herself what had happened.
“The principal protected the teacher for the conduct of leaving learners fighting in the class instead of intervening. I was told that my daughter had bunked a class and swore at the teacher in her language. The principal did not entertain the issue of bullying. He told me that he intends on suspending all the learners or the children must seek psychology (psychological help),” she said.
She said her child was violated.
“Those girls were pulling her skirt up. There were boys who were touching my daughter’s private parts. She came home crying and vowing to no longer go back to school. I am concerned because my daughter is not going to school while perpetrators are going ahead learning,” she said.
Gauteng education spokesperson Steve Mabona said the department was aware of the incident where girl pupils were allegedly involved in a fight at school.
“The report at our disposal reveals that the said learner had bunked class and later came in whilst the teacher was having another class and rudely demanded her bag from her, and she ignored her. One of the learners reprimanded her and that is where the fight started,” Mabona said.
He said the school governing body had launched an investigation and the necessary disciplinary process will be followed.
“The parent was assured of the safety of the learner at school and offered to refer the learner for counselling. On Monday, the parent visited the school to serve the learners with protection orders and she was informed that the Child Act does not allow such in the absence of their parents. It was then agreed that the school must organise the parents for today (Tuesday),” Mabona said.
The Star