Durban - The three schoolgirls captured on video beating another at an uMlazi school have been expelled.
Isaac Luthuli, spokesman for KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Peggy Nkonyeni, confirmed on Friday that the school governing body of Vukuzakhe High School decided to expel the three involved in the bullying and assault.
The incident took place in September and the schoolgirls were suspended after it went viral on social media last week.
In the two-minute video captured on cellphone, the victim, who was in Grade 8 at the time, was slapped 40 times and kicked in the stomach and groin four times.
Her assaulters were boarding school peers who were in Grade 10.
Luthuli called the incident a barbaric act.
The ANC appealed to teachers and parents to take drastic action if they noticed signs of bullying at schools.
ANC provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala said: “The video showing a girl being beaten by her fellow pupils is shocking. Our schools should be places of learning and teaching and not centres of bullying.
“We have had a number of incidents of learners harassing, bullying and tormenting each other.
“We condemn these incidents and call on all education stakeholders – parents and community members – to stand against bullying,” Zikalala said.
“Teachers and those who manage school dormitories should do the same so that we can deal with the problem. We commend the provincial Department of Education for taking stern actions against those involved in any form of school violence,” he said.
Daily News