MEC blasts school violence and bullies

THE spate of violence and bullying at schools creates the impression that they are under siege, Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said.

“The violence at schools is deplorable and should be condemned,” he said yesterday.

“They range from corporal punishment‚ bullying‚ killing of scholar patrollers and assault between learners.

“We again express our condolences to the parents of learners who have lost their lives in the recent past‚ including the family of the one that committed suicide in Ekurhuleni.

“In addition‚ the department wishes a speedy recovery to all the learners who are recovering in hospital‚ especially the burn victim in Ekurhuleni.”

Lesufi said the department was at an advanced stage of an investigation into the causes of violence at schools.

The governing body at Mooifontein Primary School, in Kempton Park, had started disciplinary proceedings against pupils who had pricked each other with needles. Lesufi said the department was also awaiting postmortem results on the cause of death of a pupil, who had died after allegedly being bullied at Noorderlig Gekombineerde Skool in Benoni.

A pupil had been suspended after pouring hot water on a girl at Buhlebemfundo High School in Brakpan.

The girl has been discharged from hospital.

A Department of Education spokesman said: “The culprit has been suspended and will face a hearing.”