#LufunoMavhunga: Girl (15) accused of assault out on R1 500 bail
The 15-year-old girl was released into the care of her parents, says the NPA.
LlMPOPO –The 15-year-old girl accused of the assault of Lufuno Mavhunga, was granted bail by the Thohoyandou Children’s Court on Thursday, 29 April.
She faces a schedule two offence, assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) and will be dealt with in accordance with the Child Justice Act Director of Public Prosecutions. The National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Regional Spokesperson, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi says the state opposed the bail due to the seriousness of the offence, even though they are dealing with a child in conflict of the law.
“The court however fixed the bail at R1 500 under the condition that she not interfere with any of the witnesses and not travel outside of the borders of Limpopo without informing the investigating officer,” she explained. She was released into the care of her parents and the case was remanded to 27 May for further investigations.
Mavhunga was featured in video footage that went viral on social media, in which a crowd of learners are cheering on a verbal attack, which later turned physical, on the late teenager. The apparent school-bullying incident took place at Mbilwi Secondary School learner in Sibasa Block A on Monday, 12 April.
She thereafter took her own life.
In an earlier statement, Police Spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo explained that the victim later that day, locked herself in her room and reportedly overdosed on tablets. She was rushed to a local hospital, but was certified dead on arrival, he said. The accused was taken into custody on Wednesday, 14 April.
During the hearing the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Children’s Court remanded the learner in custody at a local youth centre. Last Friday, the investigating officer testified that the child must remain in custody explaining that it is ‘not safe for her to return to the community’.
Read more: #LufunoMavhunga: “Our nation needs more than hashtags, action is what we need”
The late learner’s funeral was held at Tshirenzheni village on Saturday, 17 April. The MEC for Community Safety, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya has since issued a stern warning to learners who bully others and bring dangerous weapons to school.
The Limpopo police say they will no longer be a spectator to what they term a “criminal monster” that is turning schools into zones of terror.
According to the MEC, school safety is high on their priority list, and learners who disturb the peace will be subjected to strong disciplinary action, according to the Child Justice Act.
“Schools are a place of learning, not a battlefield for crime. Learners are supposed to carry books and other learning aids to school, not weapons such as guns and knives. We will not tolerate this behaviour, because we want harmony at our schools, where learning should take place.”
“Our job is to protect learners, but if something goes wrong, we have no alternative but to arrest the perpetrators and allow the law to take its own course,” she warned.
Lerule-Ramakhanya further urged teachers, parents, learners and residents to inform the police immediately if they suspect children of carrying dangerous weapons to school.
