Father claims ‘bullying is rife’ at local school
‘My daughter has been the victim of ongoing bullying at the school, but nothing is being done'
AN Empangeni father has called for the suspension of a teenager who physically assaulted his daughter at Empangeni High School earlier this month.
According to the man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his 16-year-old child, there was an altercation during which a boy in her Grade 10 class punched her in the face.
She sustained a cut to her lip and a bad bruise to her chin.
He alleges the argument broke out after the boy ‘made a derogatory comment about her weight’.
‘He hit her, unprovoked. Regardless, it is never okay for a boy to hit a girl, no matter what.’
But the boy in question has not been suspended and returned to class on the day of the incident.
‘When I approached the principal I explained to her that my daughter did not want to return to school while the boy was still there,’ the father said.
‘I asked her why he had not been suspended, and she said disciplinary hearings were only conducted by the school governing body that will only meet again next month.
‘She told me that I had to prove that my daughter was in danger before they could immediately suspend him. But in the meantime, my child might miss her exams.’
The cause of the fight however, is altogether more worrying to the father.
‘My daughter has been the victim of ongoing bullying at the school, but nothing is being done. Now it has ended with my daughter being too afraid to go back to school.’
The father said he reported the incident to the Empangeni SAPS.
‘I want my child to be able to return to school and finish her exams without feeling afraid or being threatened. And I want answers about what is happening.’
An spokesperson for the school said that contrary to the father’s claims about safety, the girl had returned to school and had not missed classes.
‘I can assure you this matter is being taken very seriously, and will certainly be dealt with at the next disciplinary hearing.’
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