Pupil beaten while trying to help another

THE Department of Education is expected to come down hard on school bullies after a 14-yearold boy, attacked on a school playground by five pupils, had to have surgery.

The Grade 9 pupil at Kharwastan Secondary, who was to undergo surgery this week, cannot be named as he is a minor.

He was beaten up, allegedly by Grade 10 pupils who attacked him during a lunch break after a soccer game. When he tried to save a friend who was being taunted, the group pounced on him.

The boy’s mother said: “As my son walked away, someone shouted: ‘Be careful, they’re going to hit you!’ and someone tried to hit him with a belt. He was pushed to the ground and five boys beat him.”

His injuries include a fractured nose, blackened eye and swollen face and ankle. His clothes were torn in the attack.

“When my husband and I were told of the incident by the principal, we rushed to the school, but I was denied entry by the security guards who said the gates would only open at 2pm. I eventually found my son in the sick room,” the mother said.

The injured pupil was reportedly left alone in the sick room and given two painkillers by the principal.

The mother said: “Medical assistance and police should have been called in as this was assault. My son was bleeding.

“I do not blame the school or the parents of the other pupils for the assault, but I did not like the way my son was treated afterwards.”

Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbhele confirmed that police were investigating a case of common assault.

The mother added: “My son is traumatised. He has missed tests. He has become withdrawn and it seems like he doesn’t want to return to school.”

Department of Education spokesperson Kwazi Mthethwa said a district manager would be deployed to the school to investigate and the department would act accordingly.

“We will act harshly against school bullies and protect victims. We apologised to the alleged victim and his parents. We want to ensure parents feel their kids are safe at school,” he said.

Two pupils have been suspended from the school until the investigation can be finalised.

Principal Cliffy Chetty said the incident was isolated and unfortunate.

“The school governing body has been informed. We have a tribunal, which includes attorneys, who will investigate the matter.

“Our school values discipline. Looking at the videos that surfaced in past weeks, we see there is a lot of anger in our kids and it must be addressed,” he said.