Cape Town - A little boy is fighting for his life after an eight-year-old pupil allegedly tossed him over a balcony at school.
Faidh Jacobs, also eight, is currently in a critical condition at Red Cross Children’s Hospital after being diagnosed with a cracked skull.
Until the swelling and the bleeding stops, doctors cannot give him any pain medication.
The boy’s nightmare began on Friday as he stood outside his Hyde Park Primary classroom.
Faidh was taking a break outside, close to the railing, after practicing for the upcoming school concert.
A fellow pupil allegedly came up behind him and according to a witness, lifted Faidh over the railing, sending him crashing to the ground.
Faidh fell four metres and landed on his head, cracking his skull, which led to massive swelling and internal bleeding.
A witness says she saw the horrific incident.
“I was so scared, I just froze. Everyone was screaming and I just ran,” she says.
On Monday, the Daily Voice spoke to Faidh’s worried mother, who has not left his bedside since the incident.
Zubeida Jacobs, 45, says: “Faidh is strong and still speaks to us.
“He says he does not want to go back to school if that boy [attacker] is still there.
“I think this boy must be disciplined. He hurt my son. Whatever can be done, by law, must be done.
“There are as yet no improvements to my child’s condition, but he did not deserve this.
“He deserves a safe environment at school. With that child there, he will never have that.”
Zubeida has yet to lay a criminal charge because she has not been able to leave her son’s side in hospital.
Faidh’s sister Fadwa, 23, says she can’t believe the boy who dumped her brother over the balcony is still allowed to attend classes.
An angry Fadwa says: “He deliberately threw my brother over the balcony.
“He hurt Faidh, my brother may never be the same... if he survives this.”
Referring to the young suspect, she adds: “His own teacher says he is a problem, but nothing is being done about him bullying anyone.”
The Jacobs family say they have heard nothing from the parents of the other boy.
Fadwa says: “My brother is lying in hospital because of her son. If she was nice, she could have come and asked about his well-being.
“Those parents disgust me. Faidh did not deserve this. Ek gannit nie so los nie.” (I won’t leave it like this)
The school’s principal, Dirk Jurgens, refused to comment on the matter.
There is, however, a meeting scheduled on Tuesday between the principal and the parents of the two boys.
The Western Cape Education Department’s Paddy Attwell told the Daily Voice the matter had not been reported to them.
Attwell says: “This is a shocking report. Our circuit team is not aware of this incident and will make contact with the school to obtain full details.”
Daily Voice