‘Lufuno blocked her on Facebook’

PRINCIPAL: ALLEGES IT STARTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Brother says sister enjoyed maths, science – and wanted to be a doctor.

Smart and independent are some of the words used by family to describe Lufuno Mavhunga, days after the Grade 10 pupil died after being allegedly bullied this week at Mbilwi Secondary School in Limpopo.

Her alleged bully, a 15-year-old fellow pupil, has been arrested after Lufuno apparently overdosed on medication and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Siloam Hospital on Monday.

Lufuno’s brother, Kenny

Mavhunga, said his little sister will be buried today at Tshinzheni village. “We don’t know how many people are coming, we are trying to control it still,” he said.

“We have had so much support from politicians, artists and organisations. It has been overwhelming.”

Mavhunga said Lufuno was one of 13 siblings. “She was like a daughter and a sister at the same time.”

He describes Lufuno as a smart, independent thinker, who wanted things her way. “She didn’t play much, she was always doing her homework. She was a real bookworm and enjoyed maths and science. She wanted to be a doctor when she grew up,” he said.

Mavhunga said his sister never mentioned any other incidents before Monday.

“There is a possibility that she was going through something and tried to manage it herself.”

He said the school principal told the family the alleged attacker was angry at Lufuno for blocking her on Facebook. “We, as the family, want to see the law take its course. As you can expect, we are still very emotional and are trying to focus on her burial to make sure she has a dignified sendoff.”

Mavhunga said it was hard to explain what they are going through. “My five-year-old daughter saw the story on the news and noted the child is bullying the other child. But I couldn’t tell her it was her auntie being bullied.”

Colleen Strauss, a social worker and chief executive of the Sinoville Crisis Centre, said bullied children experience the incident as being rejected and outcast. She said the community and teachers should create a safe platform for pupils to talk about bullying.