A grade 10 learner was suspended from school aftera video of him assaulting a girl in the same grade circulated on social media. The two are pupils at the Nic Diederics High school in Krugersdorp, WestRand. 

THE VIDEO CLIP 

In a 25 second video clip, two boys are seen approaching the girl who was sitting with two other learners beside her. They stood in front of her and one of the boys handed over something to his accomplice before violently pushing the girl down and slapped her. The girl tried to fight back, and then other learners intervened. 

LEARNER TO FACE DISCIPLINARY ACTION 

The Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said the perpetrator has been suspended through correspondence that was served to his parents. He said a disciplinary hearing by the school’s Disciplinary Committee has been  scheduled for 12 February2023. "Our officials visited the school to verify the circumstances surrounding the incident. Our psycho-social support team has also been deployed to provide counselling and trauma support for the victim," says Mabona. "We strongly condemn any acts of misconduct by learners that dehumanises, demeans and potentially endangers other learners, and ultimately undermines the dignity of our learning institutions. Learner ill-discipline will not be tolerated in our schools."

PARENTS URGED TO DISCIPLINE KIDS

Mabona said that the department continues to appeal to parents to assist in enforcing discipline upon their children in and outside the school environment. Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane said: “We condemn, in the strongest sense, this despicable behaviour. No one can be allowed to assault anyone in our schools, and we especiallycondemn any form of gender-based violence in our schools. We are pleased that the perpetrator is suspended and will not be allowed back to our school beforenecessary rehabilitation."