- Three learners have been suspended and a fourth faces action after a Grade 8 pupil was beaten and hospitalised in the East Rand.
- The school principal has been removed while police investigate claims that bullying complaints were ignored before the attack.
The Gauteng Department of Education has sent officials to an East Rand school after a Grade 8 boy was beaten by other pupils and landed in the intensive care unit (ICU).
According to the department, the boy was attacked by about four learners. Three of them have been suspended with immediate effect, and the fourth will join them as he was already on suspension.
The incident led to chaos in the area when learners from four nearby schools marched in support of the victim. Classes were disrupted as pupils left school to join the protest.
Gauteng Education spokesperson Steve Mabona, said the department was working with parents and police to deal with the disruption that halted teaching and learning.
‘’In light of the learner assault incident that led to these disruptions, the department has since received information suggesting that the learner was allegedly assaulted by a group of approximately four learners,’’ said Mabona.
It’s also alleged that the school principal failed to act on previous reports of bullying against the affected pupil.
“The principal of Thuto-Lesedi Secondary School has been temporarily transferred to the District Office, pending the outcome of an internal investigation,” Mabona added.
Police are now investigating the incident. The department has urged pupils to return to class on Monday, 4 August, saying teaching and learning will continue as normal.
Pictured above: the victim
Image source: sourced
