Family of teen driven to suicide await justice
THE DEVASTATED family of Lufuno Mavhunga, the Limpopo learner who committed suicide following a vicious assault at school, say they are ready for the law to run its course and for justice to be served.
A video of the 15-year-old being assaulted by a fellow learner while others laughed in the background went viral on Monday, and had sparked outrage about bullying in schools.
Lufuno’s brother and the family spokesperson, Kenneth Mavhunga, spoke to The Star yesterday before Limpopo Education MEC Polly Boshielo visited the family to convey her condolences.
Mavhunga said that the family were devastated and emotional about the teenager’s death, especially because of how she died.
“We are trying to deal with the burial but we become emotional because it feels like this is something that could have been prevented,” the brother said.
Mavhunga said when his sister returned from school on Monday, she told her parents that she had been assaulted at school and also sent the video of the assault to her other brother in Pretoria.
“The brother tried to reach out to the principal, and the principal of the school said he was happy that he brought the matter to his attention, as if it was the first time he heard about it,” he said.
Mavhunga said later that evening when the family went to check on the 15-year-old, they found her unconscious.
“The ambulance came and when they were taking her to the hospital, that is when she took her last breath,” the brother said.
Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, said the learner allegedly overdosed on pills.
A preliminary report on the incident by the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) revealed that on the day of the incident, Lufuno and the school’s security guard reported the case of bullying to the school principal’s office, however, he failed to attend to it.
SAHRC spokesperson Victor Mavhidula said the principal of Mbilwi Secondary School told the security guard to return to his post and for Lufuno to return to class, even after she had told him about the threats made by the perpetrator.
He said the commission was compiling a report which it would hand to the Department of Basic Education.
Lufuno’s brother said that as much as the family were angry and sad about what had happened to her, they were ready for the law to run its course and for justice to be served.
“We will want justice. We understand that it won’t bring her back but we believe the laws of this country are well fitted to deal with this matter,” the brother said.
Mavhunga added that the family were not happy with the school’s preliminary report of the incident as the school said the two learners were fighting, however, the video showed an assault, not a fight.
“There are a lot of things that we don’t know as a family and we would like the institutions vested in this matter to get to the bottom of it,” he said.
Limpopo Education spokesperson Tidimalo Chuene said during the MEC’s visit to the school yesterday, with Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba, that eight psychologists were deployed before there was a meeting with the schools’ stakeholders including the school governing body (SGB).
“The report we received from the SGB is that by morning they had issued two suspension letters, one the police arrested and another learner. The learners should appear for disciplinary hearing on April 22,” she said.
Chuene said if more information came to light, there might be more suspensions.
The police arrested a 15-year-old schoolgirl who allegedly assaulted Lufuno on Wednesday.
Speaking to Newzroom Afrika yesterday, the grandfather of one of Lufuno’s alleged bullies, said the family were concerned that if the she slept alone, she would also attempt suicide. He said the family attempted counselling as a family to deal with the young girl’s trauma. The TV news station has reported the learner had been placed under suicide watch.