The Department of Education is investigating a matter where a grade 11 learner allegedly committed suicide at home after she was bullied at school by fellow learners. Athia Johnson (16) from Hankey High School allegedly ended her life after a fellow learner refused to delete a video, he took of her being assaulted by two learners on Tuesday.

ENDING HER LIFE

It is alleged that Johnson was involved in a physical fight with the two female learners shortly after school. Following the confrontation, Johnson attempted to escape, but a male learner allegedly captured the fight and her fleeing and subsequently began circulating it amongst other learners. "This angered Athia, who approached the male learner the next day, pleading with him to stop circulating the video. However, he did not, and the video quickly spread throughout the school. Other learners mocked her, labelling her a coward for not being able to fight," an eyewitness told ZiMoja. After school, Johnson returned home and reportedly told her parents that she wanted to take a nap. When her parents asked if she was okay, she told them she just needed to rest as she was tired. After two hours, her parents went to wake her for dinner, only to make the tragic discovery of her hanging from the roof of her room. 

INVESTIGATION

Eastern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima confirmed that an investigation is underway. "Since the matter didn't happen on our premises and the signed report doesn't mention it, we felt let's rather field questions related to the report as they come, but only communicate the outcomes of our investigation. We didn't want to comment on the speculations but rather investigate, then pronounce after," Mtima said. He said that allegations of bullying are part of the terms of reference of the investigating team's package. "Therefore, we will only pronounce once the investigation is done. The investigating team is at the school as we speak, led by the district manager," he added.

STERN WARNING

EC SAPS spokesperson Captain Marius McCarthy said the police are investigating an inquest docket. "According to information, it is alleged that there was a fight between school kids where the deceased was involved. It is further alleged that the deceased went home and informed her mother; she asked her mother to go with her to the family of the other child to request to delete the video. After the refusal, they went back home, where she hanged herself," McCarthy said. McCarthy also sent a stern warning to the members of the public that they must refrain from taking pictures and videos at crime scenes and posting them on social media.