UPDATE: Lesufi urges learners to reflect on behaviour
A video that went viral last week shows learners (aged between 14 and 15) from the school attacking another learner (14) as they proceed to continually kick her while she lies on the ground.
Gauteng MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi has advised the Crystal Park High school governing body (SGB) not to rush the pending disciplinary hearing of five learners involved in the assault of a fellow learner, which Lesufi dubbed “attempted murder”.
His reason for this, he said, is for the perpetrators to reflect on their “ill-discipline and shocking behaviour”.
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[WATCH] Lesufi says Crystal Park High incident an embarrassment
In a press release issued by the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), Lesufi’s request to the SGB was further explained.
“Ill-discipline will never be allowed to persist in our schooling environment,” warned Lesufi.
“We urge all our learners to refrain from acts of misconduct in schools and implore parents to assist the department in instilling learner discipline in and outside the school environment.”
Following the incident, which occurred on March 6, the MEC visited the school yesterday to address the learners.
“You have embarrassed me,” said Lesufi regarding the incident.
“We support the SGB’s decision to suspend the learners immediately.
“They need to appear in court and need to know they will have a criminal record as that is the only way they will learn from their actions.”
GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona said the department strongly condemned the “barbaric act” which was the result of an argument between the learners.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that an argument ensued earlier during school, subsequently leading to the fight after school about 30m from the school premises.
“All parents of the implicated learners were called to the school to discuss the disciplinary processes.
“It must be noted the parent of the victim reported this incident to the police, who arrested all perpetrators and released them to their parents’ custody.
“The alleged perpetrators have since been placed on precautionary suspension (as of March 7), pending the disciplinary hearing to be facilitated in due course.
“Our psychosocial team is at the school to provide necessary counselling to the victim. This support will also be extended to the perpetrators who are currently on suspension.
“Police are investigating this matter.”
Mabona added that the GDE has a policy of zero tolerance for any form of misconduct.
“Anyone found to be transgressing this policy is dealt with in line with the South African Schools Act code of conduct, which governs all schools.
“Schools are urged to enforce their codes of conduct to deal with all disciplinary matters,” said Mabona.
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