VAALPARK – Following the video of a 16-year-old Vaalpark Secondary School pupil being beaten by a fellow pupil, the School Governing Body (SGB) has since distanced itself.
In a statement, the SGB Chairperson X Rahiman explained their involvement in the physical altercation that took on 16 March 2023 between a group of Grade 10 and Grade 11 girls.
According to Rahiman the incident happened at a taxi rank and they are aware of it, however, they (SGB) tried to mediate the situation.
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Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, Rahiman said the incident, as well as the accompanying video, came to their attention on the morning of 17 March 2023.
“The principal and the school management team immediately started an in-depth investigation into the matter. This included obtaining statements from the girls involved in the altercation as well as eyewitness statements,” she said.
Rahiman said throughout the investigation, the SGB were in constant communication with all role players, including the parents of the girls.
“The Fezile Dabi education district also became involved at a later stage. The school’s disciplinary process was explained to the parents. Only once the investigation into the matter was concluded, were we able to formulate charges and initiate proceedings for hearings for each of the seven girls,” she added.
“This process is still ongoing because hearing dates had to be moved due to the public holidays and the subsequent school holiday. The parents of one of the girls in question laid an official charge of assault at the Sasolburg Police Station and the case is sub judice. This case is separate from the school’s disciplinary process, and we can therefore not comment on it. All policies and procedures as set out by the South African School Act and FEDSAS (Federation for South African Schools) are followed by Vaalpark High School in our handling of all disciplinary matters,” she said.
Rahiman said the SGB wishes to categorically state that this incident did not take place on our grounds.
