An attack on a 13-year-old, allegedly by a group of 10 learners at a Mbombela school, has sparked outrage and calls for justice.

The learner was hospitalised after the assault, which occurred as she entered the school premises on Friday morning, August 15.

According to information received, the attack followed her refusal to complete an assignment for a classmate.

The victim’s father told Lowvelder that his daughter was approached by a classmate who demanded she do the work.

When she refused, the classmate allegedly threatened her, warning that she ‘will deal with her’.

Before the assault, the learner’s older sister and mother attempted to intervene, but their efforts were unsuccessful. “She was kicked and slapped, and shoes were used to assault her. It only stopped after a school staff member intervened,” he says. The injured learner spent the weekend in hospital receiving treatment.

The father, still reeling from the incident, admitted he was initially so angry that he threatened to confront the learners involved, but was persuaded to calm down.

He was shocked to learn he was being accused of pointing a gun at one of the learners – an allegation he strongly denies.

While school management and the Mpumalanga Department of Education (DoE) were called in, he feels their intervention did not yield results.

He has since laid charges against the learners at the Nelspruit Police Station and is determined to seek justice for his daughter.

According to him, this was not the first incident involving these learners, with other outstanding cases of assault and bullying yet to be addressed.

He added that bullying at the school is out of control and urged the school to review its code of conduct policies.

“At a meeting with the school governing body (SGB) held over the weekend, the school and SGB made a decision without hearing my side of the story. They added three more counts on top of the one for allegedly pointing a gun at learners. I was further accused of verbal abuse, harassment and damage to property. To my surprise, neither the teachers nor the SGB seemed to consider what my children went through,” he said.

The school declined to comment on the matter, referring all inquiries to the Mpumalanga DoE.

Gerald Sambo, spokesperson for the Mpumalanga DoE, confirmed that the department is investigating the incident.

He said the learners involved would face disciplinary action in accordance with the school’s code of conduct. “We also want to plead with the parents of the learners to fully co-operate with the school while the necessary disciplinary processes are conducted,” Sambo urged.

Regarding the gun accusation, he added that no one witnessed the incident and called on anyone with evidence to report it to the police. Sambo condemned all forms of violence and bullying in schools across the province.

The outcome of the investigation and disciplinary process is awaited.

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