KZN school expels girl bullies

VIDEO SHOWS CRUEL ASSAULT

THE KwaZulu-Natal department of education has expelled two girls in a video which shows another girl being repeatedly slapped and shoved while on a bed in Vukuzakhe High boarding school’s dormitory.

The school is in Umlazi township, southwest of Durban. The two Grade 11 pupils were sent home after they were photographed in the video clip slapping their victim to the ground, followed with a series of kicks to the abdomen, while they interrogated and tormented her.

The incident allegedly happened last year but was only leaked to social networks this week.

The department immediately instructed the school to hold a tribunal to listen to the case.

Department spokesman Muzi Mahlambi said: “The two had been suspended pending a tribunal.

“The tribunal sat yesterday [Wednesday] and made a recommendation that the girls be expelled from the school for their dastardly action.

“This morning the head of department Dr Nkosinathi Sishi endorsed the decision and these girls have therefore been expelled.

“We are working together with the department of social development so that the victim can be counselled.

“Even the perpetrators will not be thrown away. They will be counselled as well because they also need help so that when they resume their education, they can become good ambassadors who will fight against bullying in schools,” he said.

The incident is the latest to happen at the school, which until a few years ago was a centre of academic excellence. But last year the school did not function for several months after teachers and pupils protested against principal Doris Fulela, who they accused of mismanaging school fees.

Later in the year, pupils turned against teachers and accused them of being responsible for disorder in the school.

During the ensuing chaos pupils attacked and assaulted four teachers at the school.

KwaZulu-Natal ANC secretary, Sihle Zikalala, urged parents to take responsibility and work with schools to address the problem of bullying.

“It is a responsibility of parents to regularly ask their children if they are not victims of bullying or if they know anyone who is being bullied. Teachers and those who manage school dormitories should do the same so that we can deal with the problem of bullying.

“We commend the provincial department of education for taking stern action against those involved in any form of school violence,” Zikalala said.