Bullied teen knifed to death in class

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Published Jun 9, 2016

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Durban - Bullying has cost one schoolboy his life while another is expected in court on Thursday for murder.

An 18-year-old was to appear in court on Thursday for the murder of Lungelo Maphumulo, 17, stabbed in the head in class at Folweni High School on Monday, said police spokeswoman Captain Nqobile Gwala.

Department of Education spokesman, Muzi Mahlambi, said the murder accused had allegedly bullied Maphumulo, taking his cellphone.

During break time, Maphumulo ganged up on him with his friends and “slapped” him in the toilets at the south Durban school.

The accused had told his parents about the beating, but took a knife to school on Monday.

While teachers were changing classes, Maphumulo taunted the accused about the beating and the accused allegedly retaliated by stabbing him in the head with the knife he had brought to school for protection.

Maphumulo was taken to a nearby clinic and then transferred to hospital, but died.

Mahlambi said a tribunal had been established to look into the incident and regardless of the outcome of the criminal case, the accused would be expelled from school.

“We have a zero tolerance stance on such things, we cannot have such people in our schools,” he said.

However, Mahlambi said Maphumulo and the accused were both victims and perpetrators of bullying leading up to the fatal stabbing.

“Because of bullying, we are going to bury one boy and the other is in jail. It is really becoming a silent killer in our schools.”

This week five girls were suspended from Bechet Secondary School in Sydenham, for beating a 15-year-old schoolmate for kissing one of their boyfriends.

A video of the beating went viral as had one in which a Grade 8 schoolgirl at Hunt Road Secondary School in Berea slapping and kicking another pupil in a school toilet last month.

At Phoenix Secondary School, a father hired bodyguards to escort his Grade 10 son after he was chased with a knife by a boy who had repeatedly attempted to extort money from him in class.

Mahlambi urged parents to pay attention. “We are pleading with parents. No matter how small you think something is, take it seriously when your children come to you. Go to school and address it.

“Just like parents intervene and teach lessons at home when siblings fight, they should intervene regarding issues at school as well.”

He also called on non-governmental organisations, churches, teachers and communities to rally together to fight bullying.

The schoolboy accused of Maphumulo’s murder was expected to appear in the Nsimbini Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

Daily News

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