This child was failed by us: MEC
The MEC of Community Safety in Gauteng says a teenager who died at the hands of bullies should have been protected.
Louis de Jonge, a pupil at Noorderlig Gekombineerde Skool is believed to have died as a result of the injuries he sustained while fighting off bullies.
The 13-year-old passed away on Tuesday.
MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane will visit the Benoni school on Friday.
She says: "I am going to that school to try and address some of the challenges, but also to meet with the parents. We hope that we will come up with a programme to try and deal with bullying at that school. There was a crime that was committed and unfortunately it was committed by a minor."
Nkosi-Malobane says children should feel safe at school.
"I think this child was failed by us."
She says the children alleged to have been behind the bullying ordeal have been told to stay away from school pending the investigation.
"But it is up to the magistrate to decide whether the children should be allowed to return to school to sit for their exams."
Police will accompany the MEC on her visit to provide an update on the investigation.