Concerns raised over video of alleged learner assault circulating on social media

A video showing what appears to be a fight between two school children that was circulating on social media caused great concern among the community and parents of Eersterust in Pretoria.

The Department of Education said it was aware of a video circulating on social media groups showing five Grade 9 learners involved in a fight outside Eersterust Secondary School last week.

The mother of the 15-year-old victim said that her daughter was traumatised.

“I see this as a form of bullying. My daughter is much traumatised. I don’t want her to grow up in this kind of environment where she is being bullied at school,” she said.

Her daughter informed her that “friends” were threatening her the day before the incident. She was scared they were going to attack her.

“As they walked out of the gate the following day, the one girl came from behind and started hitting and kicking her.

“She pulled her to the ground where she then kept on kicking her,” the upset mother told Rekord.

Spokesperson for the Gauteng department of education, Steve Mabona said, “according to the information at our disposal, all learners that were involved in the fight, opened a case with the SAPS and subsequently a meeting was scheduled together with their parents at the police station”.

“Disciplinary action has been scheduled and counselling will be offered to all the affected learners.

“We have referred the matter to the department of social development for further interventions and support,” he said

A group of concerned community members visited the school last week, to discuss the matter. The group included Voice it in Action president, Kgothatso Moloto, together with concerned citizens and community members, Kenneth Petersen, Nicky Marshall, Vinolia Meyer and Debbie Moses of Current Situation.

“A lot of issues and challenges have been identified which require a higher level of engagement. We plan to invite the Department of Education and community safety, concerned individuals and organisations, including the school principals in the area as well as school governing bodies, and other relevant entities to discuss possible solutions and a way forward in fighting against bullying and the alarming number of fights in the community by school children in particular,” he said.

Moloto said that working together would ensure that the fight against violence in communities and schools was reduced, detected sooner and ultimately stopped.

“We also pledged to work with the schools in Eersterust to ensure that these fights and other related challenges in and around the schools are stopped before they get out of hand. “We need to ensure a sustainable environment conducive to education and further development of the children and youth of the community of Eersterust,” he said.

Other projects have also been launched in the area to combat bullying in schools including Step in Their Shoes, a new anti-bullying project by the Moot child protection hotline. It aims to educate children of the dangers of online activity and social media.

Signs your child is being bullied:

– They act out by losing their temper over something insignificant.

– They don’t want to go to school and actively look for reasons not to go.

– They don’t want to talk about school.

– They say things like: “I hate my life”, “I wish I had never been born”.

– They retreat into their own angry world.

– Their ability to concentrate and learn is reduced.

– They have unexplained cuts or bruises

. – Incidences of stolen or damaged possessions and clothing.

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