The school governing body (SGB) at David Mama High School has denied claims that the five boys who allegedly physically assaulted an 18-year-old girl have been reinstated.
Instead, the boys, as well as two schoolgirls who allegedly recorded the bullying incident, have been suspended for a further seven days with a disciplinary hearing set to sit this week.
This is according to the school’s SGB chair Mcingisi Ngqiniso, who spoke to the Dispatch on Friday.
The five pupils were suspended with immediate effect two weeks ago after a viral video showed them physically assaulting an 18-year-old schoolgirl on a scholar transport bus.
The video, which circulated widely on social media, sparked public outrage.
It shows a group of high school boys slapping the girl, 18, and attempting to snatch her school bag, both inside and outside the bus, as bystanders laugh and record the assault.
The victim is later seen crying and trying to shield herself from further blows as the boys pursue her down the street.
Ngqiniso said the suspension was extended for a further seven days on Monday last week, while the department gathered further information on the incident.
The latest suspension expires on Tuesday.
“We were supposed to have a hearing last week, the parents and pupils came but unfortunately we couldn’t start.
“The reason is we’re still gathering more information from more witnesses.
“This incident did not just start in the bus as depicted in the video.
“The information that is circulating is not correct that we’ve given a final verdict.
“You cant go to a hearing with outstanding information.”
Ngqiniso’s comments come after community activist Andile Siko spoke out on social media over the disciplinary hearing having dragged on for more than seven days.
In his post, shared on Friday, Siko said he had visited the school on Tuesday to be told the matter had been extended.
Speaking to the Dispatch, he said it was unfair to the victim.
“They are trying a way to protect themselves because the moderator said they don’t have the powers to expel but to do recommendations and suspend.
“Next week it will be 14 days, they can’t suspend further than that.
“We were told these pupils cannot be expelled as they are under 18, they can only go to another school.
“I’m not happy at all, there should be a message sent about this bullying at schools because seemingly it is continuing.
“There must be an example set so that when the next child thinks of doing it, they will know they will lose a lot,” he said.
The victim’s mother said she had approached the Mdantsane court to seek justice.
“The court ordered that the boys rather go for counselling for the next six months.
“Obviously, I’m not happy and we still see them play not far from where we stay.
“We’re waiting for the school also to call us but we’re not happy,” she said.
Eastern Cape education MEC Fundile Gade confirmed the suspensions after having visited the school.
He said the outcome of the disciplinary process would determine whether the pupils would be reinstated.
Gade’s spokesperson, Vuyiseka Mboxela, said the department would address the public on the matter on Tuesday.
Ngqiniso said the disciplinary hearing would sit on Wednesday.
Daily Dispatch