SHARPEVILLE – The Congress of South African Students (COSAS) in the Sedibeng region has called for the immediate suspension of three learners allegedly involved in the bullying of Lerato Mochadibane (16), who recently took his own life. COSAS is also demanding broader action to address the ongoing issue of bullying at the school.

“Lerato was subjected to harassment and bullying while teachers and the school’s management failed to take appropriate action despite numerous complaints. Such negligence and lack of accountability cannot be tolerated in any learning institution,” the organisation stated.

The National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB) in Sedibeng, through its Secretary Thabiso Radebe, echoed these concerns, calling for stricter monitoring of school policies on bullying and governance.

“Schools are supposed to be places of learning and safety for all learners, not breeding grounds for violent behaviour like what we have witnessed at El-Shaddai. The school principal and educators, during school hours, have a duty to act in loco parentis in the absence of parents,” Radebe said.

Radebe added that the NASGB is deeply disturbed by the inaction of the school principal, despite being approached by Mochadibane’s family before the tragedy occurred.

“Our preliminary view is that there are clear elements of negligence from school authorities. We demand that the Department of Education set up an independent investigation to uncover the full truth behind this incident,” he said.

The NASGB also emphasised that this is not an isolated case of bullying.

“This type of learner misconduct has become a scourge, taking different forms in many schools. Those who failed to protect Lerato’s life must face disciplinary action.”

The association believes that such misbehaviour and negligence must be prevented from recurring. It is said that schools must strictly enforce their codes of conduct without fear or favour.

The NASGB further stated that it will be consulting with the school’s SGB committee members to obtain a full explanation of the incident, one they believe could have been prevented through timely intervention by school authorities.