NW EDUCATION CONDEMNS BULLYING AT A SCHOOL IN LEEUDORINGSTAD

The Department of Education in the North West province condemns the recent act of bullying that occurred on Monday, 26 July 2021 among learners of Tiragalo Secondary School.

The incident involving two Grade 11 girl learners of Tiragalo Secondary was reported to the school by the victim’s parent on Tuesday, 27 July 2021 to have happened after school and the unpleasant video has since been circulating on social media spaces and was seen by departmental officials.

It is reported that the victim was absent from school on the day of the incident.

Upon hearing of the incident, the school principal called in the perpetrator to enquire of the incident which she admitted to. She has been put on temporary suspension pending a formal disciplinary hearing by school management.

The victim’s mother has opened a police case.

The bullied learner is under monitoring of her well-being and the department’s inclusive education section together with the Department of Social Development have been assigned to render counselling services to learners while SAPS’ Adopt-a-cop has been called in to remind learners of the consequences of bullying.

MEC for education, Mmaphefo Matsemela asks the public to treat the matter with sensitivity.

“I have been informed of this appalling act of bullying and I strongly condemn it among our schools and among our learners. I want to say it outright, we have a zero tolerance of any form of victimization and we are therefore investigating the matter with much needed urgency. My request to the public is to stop circulation the video as it aggravates the matter. Let us be sensitive to the two minors and the families involved. Let us leave it to the assigned Department to attend to it. I call for sensitivity, “ said Matsemela.

The internal investigation is underway.

 

For more info please contact:
Elias Malindi
Departmental Spokesperson
072 892 8399/ 072 115 4855