Cape Town - A Grade 10 pupil at Salt River High School was attacked in an alleged bullying incident at the school following months of threats from her peers.
Donette Ngonefi said the tension began at the beginning of the year when she was elected class monitor. Fellow pupils were allegedly against her appointment because she was a foreigner.
Donette from the DRC said she had trouble performing her duties as class monitor because she was constantly verbally abused.
The abuse was then reported to the principal who allegedly showed “a lack of compassion” because she had notified the principal of the verbal abuse before it escalated to an assault last week.
In a video of the attack, Donette is seen sitting while some the pupils scream and shout at her. The incident escalates as multiple students begin assaulting her.
Video: Supplied
A male student is seen attacking her while others joined.
Donette suffered multiple injuries including injuries to her abdomen. A teacher who refused to be named due to an ongoing situation regarding the matter said Donette came to her crying and she was in a bad state.
Video: Supplied
Donette later collapsed and “fell on her face”. Another teacher came in to help her. Her friends also came into the classroom to support her.
On Wednesday case was reported to the police by Donette's mother and Congolese community leader Papy Sukami. Sukami sad she has been fearing for her daughter’s safety every day.
“I was really hurt because every time she comes home complaining. She’s not safe at the school and I don’t understand why the principal didn’t relieve her off her class monitor duties,” she said.
She says she was told her children should stay at home until September 5, 2019.
The Western Cape Department of Education communications director, Bronagh Hammond said: “The SGB met on Wednesday afternoon to decide a way forward and will continue with disciplinary proceedings. While the actions of the original fight are unacceptable, the actions following this incident by the other learners is just as wrong. The WCED are monitoring the situation. We await the outcome of the disciplinary hearings.”