Johannesburg’s top boys’ school, King Edward VII School, was in the news after a video of two Grade 11 boys assaulting two seemingly defenceless Grade 10 boys surfaced online on 11 February.
Headmaster David Lovatt said, “It was a concerned citizen that sent the video to the school.” This resulted in the two alleged perpetrators being suspended for seven days.
Minister of Education and Culture (MEC), Panyaza Lesufi, appealed to principals, educators and parents to take reports of bullying seriously. This followed the MEC’s visit to the school in Houghton on 13 February. Lesufi met with Lovatt and district officials for a full briefing regarding the video.
Lesufi condemned the behaviour of the Grade 11 boys and discouraged the culture of bullying at schools. As a result, interventions were recommended to assist the school in dealing with the matter. These will include the School Governing Body (SGB) convening a team to deal with the issue of disciplinary action against the alleged perpetrators.
In addition, the department will institute an independent investigation into bullying at the school where parents, schoolchildren, educators and the SGB will be interviewed. The department will also provide psychosocial support, not only to victims but to all school boys who might need that support.
Lovatt will update parents and the school boys on developments regarding this matter, and the perpetrators will remain suspended for seven days.
Details: Gauteng Department of Education’s head of communications, Oupa Bodibe on 011 355 0535 or 072 645 4569.
Read: Video of King Edward VII School learners bullying incident goes viral
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