'Expel Luckhoff High bullies'

Luckhoff High School in Stellenbosch was the scene of two violent bully attacks

Luckhoff High School in Stellenbosch was the scene of two violent bully attacks

Published Dec 9, 2016

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Cape Town - The schoolgirl bullies caught on video assaulting two fellow pupils at school are facing expulsion.

Following their disciplinary hearings on Wednesday, the governing body of Luckhoff High School in Stellenbosch is recommending that the bullies be expelled.

A final decision will be taken by the Western Cape Education Department soon.

Jessica Shelver, spokesperson for Education MEC Debbie Schaffer, says: “The disciplinary hearing for both cases took place on Wednesday.

“The disciplinary committee has recommended expulsion in both cases.

“A formal recommendation will be made by the Student Governing Body to the head of education for the learners’ expulsion.

“It must be noted that it is only the head of a provincial education department who is afforded the power by law to expel a learner,” Shelver adds.

The two female bullies were hauled before a court and school disciplinary hearings after videos of the incidents went viral and caused a public outcry.

In the first video, filmed on 24 November, the bully is seen beating her 15-year old victim in the classroom, smacking her around, kneeing her in the face and hitting her with a fist against her head.

The bully appeared in the Stellenbosch Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday on charges of assault to do Grievous Bodily Harm.

The matter has been moved to the Child Justice Court and will commence on 25 January 2017 for consultation and representations.

The second video was filmed on 28 November in a school corridor, where a girl beats up a smaller girl for “looking” at her.

The management of Luckhoff has admitted they face a crisis and that anti-bullying programmes at the school are not working.

Shelver has also revealed that reported incidents of bullying in Western Cape schools have increased sharply - from 51 in 2015 to 81 this year.

Asked whether action will be taken against learners filming incidents of bullying, Shelver said: “It is difficult to say that we will take action against learners for filming these incidents - the nature of the cases vary and in some cases, learners expose bullying behaviour which allows us to take action against the perpetrator.

“However, if the learner filming the video is party to the bullying, they too will face disciplinary action.”

Daily News

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