A female pupil from KwaZulu-Natal has been suspended after a video surfaced showing her slapping another student multiple times. The 53-second clip, which has since gone viral on social media, shows the student confronting her peer about gossiping before slapping her at least ten times. The assailant is heard saying, “What upsets me is that you are taking me for a fool” and “Why do you gossip about me?” before striking the other student.
The Department of Education has condemned the incident, which took place in the school toilets at Nqabakazulu High School in KwaMashu.
Department spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi confirmed that the pupil has been suspended for five days and will appear before the Disciplinary Inquiry Committee on Thursday. "Recommendations will be made to the Head of Department following that," Mahlambi added.
The District Manager has been notified, and an investigation into the incident is underway. Mahlambi stressed that learner-to-learner violence is a serious issue, and the department would take strong disciplinary actions.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Education, Sipho Hlomuka, also expressed concern, stating, “Bullying as a whole is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our schools.”
The matter was reported to the school last week, and the department is committed to ensuring that appropriate measures are taken.