Four suspended after school fight goes viral

According to the school’s principal, Andre Fereira, the incident happened on January 10 and all four pupils were suspended for seven days immediately after the fight. 

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi visited the school on Friday after he was tagged in the video on Twitter. 

The video shows, one pupil holding a belt, being punched by another pupil until he is knocked down to the ground and two other students approach cheering on the one who knocked him to the ground.

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"This was an isolated incident of learners that bumped into each other after break time and we think that there was a heated exchange of words that subsequently led to the fight which was captured," said Lesufi. 

He said the victim, the perpetrators, and the perpetrators two friends will face a disciplinary hearing on January 31.

 "What worried me obviously was the issue of racism, because I have seen on social media parents stating they are worried because they believe the school practices some form of racism. The principal was very clear, together with the school governing body, they rejected that notion and confirmed that learners at this school are very happy." 

 A parent of a Grade 10 learner decided to take her daughter home, telling Jacaranda FM News that she fears for her child amid the racial tension at the school. 

 Another parent told Lesufi that a former pupil informed her that the school is biased towards white Afrikaans speaking pupils over the black, Indian and coloured English speaking students. 

 "If you don't want the Afrikaans language or English language why do you want to blame it on me, it's your issue.  The language policy is a parent’s problem, this school is an Afrikaans language medium, so you bring your children knowingly, I am not forcing you. If you want to change it call a parents meeting," Lesufi told the parent. 

 He said action will be taken against learners who are found guilty of instigating violence.