Daily Dispatch

Video: mother beats teen

Mother claims her daughter was humiliated by video of her assault

- TEMBILE SGQOLANA tembiles@dispatch.co.za

A 16-year-old Maria Louw High School pupil is still in shock after she was attacked by her friend’s mother on her way to school last week.

The Daily Dispatch has a video of a woman assaulting the pupil near the school.

In the video, Priscilla Ruiters is seen talking to and holding the pupil by her braids while appearing to repeatedly strike her on the face and head.

According to the16-year-old’s mother, her daughter, who cannot be named because she is a minor, had a fight with Ruiter’s daughter last year.

“The girls made peace and they were talking and had passed that. I was shocked to see the video of my child being beaten by her friend’s mother,” she said.

However, Ruiters claimed to have been given permission to “discipline” her by her mother – something that was disputed by the teenager’s mother.

The girl’s mother said the two girls had put their fight behind them.

“On Thursday [my daughter] went to school and on her way to school she met Priscilla, who assaulted her until one of the pupils intervened. This has caused a huge embarrassm­ent to my child as she was beaten near the school in full view of other kids,” she said.

“Since the beating my child is traumatise­d. After watching the video I was so shocked as I heard her scream as the old woman beat her up, holding her by her braids. Seeing my child with blood coming out of her head as some of her braids were removed touched me.”

She said they had tried to speak to Ruiters about the incident but with no success.

“[My daughter] is new at the school and after the attack she has not been herself. The video of her attack is circulatin­g and this affects the child and it is embarrassi­ng for her.

“Since the attack Ruiters has not made any effort to meet with us and apologise for this attack, instead she has been arrogant,” she said.

The mother said her daughter’s classmates had been supportive.

“She was afraid of going to school but when she did, Maria Louw pupils supported her,” she said.

Ruiters said it was not necessary to film the incident because she was disciplini­ng the child.

“The child provoked me and I had to discipline her. I slapped her and she slapped me back and I had to beat her as her mother gave me permission to do so,” she said.

She said there was a long story behind the beating but would not comment any further on the incident. “If you publish the video I will sue you,” Ruiters warned.

Police spokespers­on Captain Namhla Mdleleni said no case had been opened.

After watching the video I was so shocked as heard my daughter scream as the old woman beat her

I

 ??  ?? UPBRAIDED: Screengrab­s of the fight between a woman and a girl.
UPBRAIDED: Screengrab­s of the fight between a woman and a girl.
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Picture: SUPPLIED
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