Lückhoff bully faces discipline
THE Western Cape Education department says the Lückhoff High School pupil implicated in a bullying video faces disciplinary action in line with the school’s code of conduct.
The video has gone viral on social media and been met with outrage.
By yesterday, it had been shared more than 7 000 times on Facebook.
It shows the girl bashing another pupil’s head on her knee several times, grabbing her by her hair and slapping her repeatedly.
It has prompted the Western Cape Education Department to dispatch officials to visit the school today.
In the video, the pupil is heard swearing at the victim before assaulting her.
She is also heard asking: “Do you want me to hurt you?”
The department yesterday said it was concerned by the “aggressive” nature of the video.
Jessica Shelver, spokeswoman for MEC for Education Debbie Schäfer, yesterday said: “We have zero tolerance for bullying in our schools and the perpetrator will face disciplinary action in line with the school’s code of conduct.
“Counselling and support will be provided for the victim. Our officials will visit the school tomorrow.”
Over the past few weeks, numerous reports and videos showing teenagers displaying bullying behaviour have gone viral on social media.
Last month, a Grade 5 Spine Road Primary School pupil was suspended after allegedly pushing an 8-year-old Grade 1 pupil’s head into a “dirty toilet” before flushing it.
In another incident, two pupils from Groote Schuur High School were suspended.
Another, from a Lotus River school, faced disciplinary action after their bullying video went viral in October.
The teenager filmed threatening another pupil apologised on Facebook.
Meanwhile, the Cape Times’ sister publication, the
She bashes a pupil’s head, grabbing her hair and slapping her
Sunday Tribune, yesterday reported that parents of a Grade 5 pupil at a prestigious boys school have claimed their son has been subjected to continuous bullying, profane and racist comments, but the school “covered up” the incidents and failed to discipline the perpetrators.
The parents alleged that they received an “unsympathetic” response from management even when their son, a pupil at Highbury Preparatory School in Hillcrest, attempted suicide because of playground trauma.
The parents claimed a classmate was largely responsible for bullying the boy, and the bully referred to their child as a “curry muncher” and treated him like a “leper”, then instigated other children to follow suit.
The boy concerned has since been transferred to another school.
To report school crime and abuse, the WCED’s Safe Schools Programme can be reached at 0800 454 647.
Counselling and advice is also offered.