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A girl was allegedly asked by the 15-year-old attacker to video her assaulting a fellow pupil at Krugersdorp High School. She was also bullied online, which experts say is on the increase. Photo: Supplied
First they called her fat and threw diet pills at her. Then they took to Facebook and BlackBerry’s BBM chat service with a series of threats, name-calling and nasty comments.
And when that wasn’t enough, the four Krugersdorp High schoolgirls marched up to the 15-year-old pupil and one hit her over the head with a glass juice bottle.
The attack during the first interval of the school day on January 30 was filmed. The video was recorded by another pupil, who had allegedly been asked by the attacker to film the confrontation.
In it, the attacker, wearing a pink headband, is seen walking across the school field, playing with the bottle.
The 70-second video shows the schoolgirl lean in to hit the girl with the bottle.
The victim steps back and the attacker steps in again to take a second swipe, but the victim, with blood on her forehead, moves out of reach.
The attacker, though suspended, was at school on Wednesday – less than 12 hours after the parents of both schoolgirls and the school’s lawyer had had a meeting at the school.
The victim’s mother, who cannot be named, has opened a case of assault against the 15-year-old attacker at the Krugersdorp police station.
And she is angry because the school did not tell her that her daughter’s attacker would be at school on Wednesday, and because she says the school did not handle the matter properly.
The mother said they were told there would be a disciplinary hearing, but neither she nor her daughter had been called to give their side of the story.
“They could have said this is the outcome and she will be back at school. The principal said he would call me when he was done with the report. But they said nothing. They did not handle this properly,” she said.
The mother said she wanted to give the school a chance to take action. “But the school did not sort it out. This is serious. It’s not a slap or pulling each other’s hair.”
She said her daughter was friends with the attacker and her group of friends at one stage, but they had drifted apart – and that’s when the cyberbullying started.
When the school reopened this year, the attacks started again. “There were threatening messages: ‘wait for Monday’; ‘we will beat you up’; ‘Monday is d-day’; ‘you going to die bitch’,” said the mother.
She told her daughter to approach a teacher to report the incidents.
“My daughter went to the deputy principal and told her that she was being bullied and threatened, and that she thought something would happen to her on Monday. The teacher said they would deal with it. But by first break my daughter was attacked.”
According to the mother, glass bottles are not sold at the school, so the attacker had brought the bottle from home.
The mother said that when the taunts started last year, she contacted the girls and asked them to stop.
“It happened on Facebook, so I didn’t want to take it to the school. I got hold of one of the girl’s moms, who said her daughter would never do anything like that. I did not think it was serious. I thought I had handled it.”
She said her daughter and her attacker were in the same class. “My daughter told me that she is not scared of this girl, but she does not want to go back because it is so uncomfortable.
“They could have come to me and told me that it was a first offence. If they did not expel her, I would not be happy but I will carry on with the criminal case.”
Gauteng Department of Education spokesman Charles Phahlane said the school governing body (SGB) had taken action and there was no provision for the department to step in.
He said the attacker’s hearing had taken place on Friday, but that the SBG had not yet made its final sanction.
He said parents had a responsibility to monitor what their children were doing on online social forums.
On Thursday, school principal Ivan Bailey told Sapa there had been an external governing body disciplinary hearing on Tuesday night to investigate the attack, and the girl had been allowed to return to school.
“A principal cannot expel a learner. There is a disciplinary procedure that has to be followed, and this has been done.”
Bailey said the attack was the culmination of a series of “shocking conversations” on Facebook and BBM.
“We do have school counsellors involved,” he added. “Cyberbullying is something we take very seriously.”
Izabella Little-Gates, an internationally published author and parenting expert from Lifetalk, said: “Cyberbullying is something that is escalating and should be taken seriously. It has to be addressed, and parents need to have discussions with their children about it.” - The Star
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Anonymous, wrote
A lot of people here it seems are jumping to unnecessary conclusions about this girl and what happened. It seems the bottle attacker "Pinky" was retaliating in a vicious manner to being insulted for some time by her former former friend "Barbie". Pinky seemingly wanted to smash Barbie and teach her a lesson for calling her an "excessive lover of boys" it seems from article evidence so far. Pinky should be suspended, but Barbie should be disciplined and both girls and they cronies need an adult neutral mediator to talk with them and help clear up the resentment and anger between these two former friends. Unfortunately very often girls and boys are advised or feel they have to give a stop nonsense snotklap to deal with such situations.
J-Hood, wrote
I say try bulling my kids and see how i'll come to your family door with such a big gun that it gets cocked like a slot machine!
Anonymous, wrote
The attacker should be expelled, our children have a right to education without bullying
@VF, wrote
@SS totally agree with you, people seem to be going off on there own forming there own opinion... This was a 15 year old girl that was called away (by a coward non the less) from her friends and then violently hit on the head with a glass bottle... and most astonishing is that those glass bottles are not sold at school... now that should send shivers down anyones spine. My hat off to the mom, carry on with all criminal, cival and whatever else you need to, to ensure that a message is sent to all parents to take more interest in there kids and what they do and to pupil to realise because you are under 18 does not mean you can get away with violent crime... To the girl that was attached, you go girl as you handled yourself like a true leader and a lady in a terrible situation. Justice will be done.... the cowards who come in groups will be dealt with. Shocking bring back corparal punishment in the schools, there will be more respect and tolerance to fellow pupils.
SS, wrote
@Anonymous 05:42pm. We're talking about a child you numbskull. You talk about murder, rape etc. If you choose to ignore this crime, what do you think it will escalate to. Get real.
Riedewaan, wrote
If this was my daughter that it happened to i would kill her attacker. what is more sad here is the comments that are being made condoning the behavior, this is the future of south africa, but what can you expect after all its being governed by a bunch of ex prisoners.
Di Gibson, wrote
www.respectme.co.za If any child is the victim of cyber bullying (as was my daughter) please contact us at info@respectme.co.za we do everything in our power to shut down and block facebook sites and protect the victim. Regards
Pene Kimber, wrote
From experience in the Parktown boys saga, I know from first hand that the Education Department does nothing and will not do anything to help any child in any assault be it sexual or physical. They are on the side of the educators and do not take the interest of the child at heart at all. They are paid these HUGE salaries to sit behind their desks and delegate. My heart goes out to this poor child who has had to go through such an assault where the headmaster turns a blind eye.
Bro. Justo, wrote
Fellow humans, this is really sad indeed. Situations like these give birth to heartless killers. A day will come when the victim will say enough is enough...and her revenge may lead to a fatality. I suffered a great deal of bullying when I was young. I was beaten thoroughly by bigger guys at school. My food was taken every day and I was warned never to tell my parents. I became a bitter, fearful and unhappy child who pretended to be happy whilst at home. No one at home (except my brothers knew) what I was going through. When I was later sent to boarding school, new bullies emerged. One day I snapped and hit one of my bullies very badly. From that day onward, I became fearless, too bold and I simply loved fighting. I could easily take pain in any fight and I'd fight till my opponent surrendered. Till today, I never lost a single fight since that day...but I did hurt a lot of people, some very badly. If authorities don't act appropriately, the victim will soon turn into an even worse bully. This is more serious than most people think.
Anonymous, wrote
To you Anonymous (who commented at 5:42pm) (1) If this was your daughter would you still be spewing your same comments? (2) So, you are not concerned that the victim was traumatised and could take a long time to deal with this? (3) It's totally insignificant to you that an appalling incident actually happened .. A 15YR OLD GIRL ATTACKED ANOTHER GIRL WITH A GLASS BOTTLE, AND IT WAS PREMEDITATED ... and this is nothing! (4) The fact that she is a star athlete and an academic star makes it acceptable to keep her in the school – irrespective of the fact that her actions were VIOLENT, INTENTIONAL and she showed NO REMORSE. I really wish you could have seen the video – it may have opened your mind!
Anonymous, wrote
Robyn, wrote
Storm in a p*sspot? Obviously you have never been affected by bullying. And to suggest that this is being blown out of proportion is a complete insult to the victim here. Humiliation and emotional attack on this level has a long lasting effect on a persons' well-being. Actions have consequences and this "top athlete and academic star" is not above reproach because she is simply "swept up easily". You speak about rape and murder being more serious - if people are so easily "swept up" into victimising people on this level then surely you are also excusing rape and murder because of easy it is to be "swept up"? Of course murder and rape are serious. Nothing in this article suggested it wasn't, but don't downplay the complete devastation cause by bullying. It has the ability to destroy lives.
Shelley, wrote
Teenagers who commit criminal acts should be treated like criminals. Not necessarily locked away but punished to the extent that they would think very hard before assaulting and harrassing anyone ever again. This soft soaping, political correctness in schools isn't working. And it's time that (anti)social media bullying is recognised as as deadly as the one-on-one kind.
Anonymous, wrote
My late sister was bullied horrendously at school for many years before we eventually moved her to a different school as there was “nothing the school could do” about the bullying. All schools supposedly have a zero tolerance policy for bullying yet very few schools enforce it. She used to lock herself in a bathroom cubicle at breaks to avoid being ridiculed and belittled by her peers. We moved her to a different school with a proven track record for this zero tolerance policy and she became a different person - happy, and excited to go to school. Sadly, she was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 14 and passed away a few months ago (age 15). Was this as a direct result of bullying? No, probably not, although that does depend on your idea of what triggers cancer (stress, negative energy etc). But how awful that my special little sister had to spend even ONE day in her too short life feeling like she was worthless because of some petty, insecure, shallow human beings. Karma will deal with you sad, sad people. My thoughts are with this girl. You shine brighter than them and they can't stand it. Walk tall xx
kat Verster, wrote
In the UK the teachers need protection against learners. One person who taught in England told me he was assaulted thee times in three and a half years. There is hope. SA schools are getting there fast
Precious, wrote
God has been taken out of school. The schools have turned their backs on God. What do they expect?
Anonymous, wrote
People, this is a storm in a p*sspot! Get over yourselves, murder, rape, etc. in SA is far more serious. The attacker is actually a top athlete and an academic star! However, at this age these girls are swept up easily and every wordaction is blown up to enormous proporsions.
Anonymous, wrote
Lack of discipline at home and at school and proper religeous education, is the reason. This wouldnt happen at a school with decent morals and principles. The violence could also be traced back to the home. Chimps use this kind of attack, not civiled beings. At this age character has already been formed, what a sad day.
Anonymous, wrote
When my son was in primary school, ons of his so-called friends started bullying him, really nasty stuff, so bad that he faked illness, in order to stay home. One day I went to the classroom, asked the teacher to call this child, and I spoke to him outside the classroom. I didn't threaten him, but just told him nicely that if he EVER lays a finger on my child, or if he EVER calls him names again, I will come for him, he won't know when, he won't know how... it worked. My son is a 30 year old with an Engineering Degree, a wonderful personality, and the bully works behind the counter of a shop, ne never made anything of his life. Bullies must be stopped when they're young, otherwise they stay bullies for the rest of their lives. I don't always believe in parents fighting childrens battles for them, but sometimes there's no alternative.
Patsy, wrote
My brother was also attacked in school years ago and it affected his self esteem so much for years later to come. Hand those bullies over to me and I will sort them out, it makes me so angry to read things like this. My condolences to this girl. You be strong girl, the universe will pay them back!! Kids of today can be so cruel!!! About time parents, teachers, adults listen when a kid talks!!!!
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