‘Justice must be done for my son’s soul’ – Sibusiso Mbatha’s mom
The mother of deceased grade 6 pupil Sibusiso Mbatha says she trusted teachers at Khehlekile Primary School to look after her child and not drive him to end his own life.
An investigation report into allegations that Mbatha was verbally and emotionally abused by a teacher before he died by suicide last month has found that there’s merit and supporting evidence to the claims.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane on Thursday released the findings of the probe done by the law firm, Rangata Attorneys, which he appointed to investigate the matter last month.
The investigators recommended that the deputy principal – who is accused of making offensive utterances – the principal, the head of department (HOD), and the class teacher be charged for their alleged role in the incident.
READ MORE: Sibusiso Mbatha: Probe finds teacher’s alleged homophobia drove pupil to suicide
Mpumi Mbatha said learning that four adults at the school failed her son had reopened the wound of losing her child.
“I took my child to a school, not to a butchery to be slaughtered. I didn’t know that I was taking my child to be killed, if I knew I it I would have taken him elsewhere. I won’t ever see him again, and his dreams were ended by adults.”
The family has laid a criminal complaint against the teacher Mbatha named as his tormentor.
"Justice must be done for my son’s soul,” the grieving mother said.
At the same time Mbatha’s aunt, who became emotional during an earlier press briefing with the MEC, said it broke them to imagine what the 12-year-old endured from adults at the school.
“If it was four children, four peers…adults for crying out loud. Professionals ganged up against a 12-year-old until he took his own life.”
MEC Chiloane said disciplinary processes against the implicated staffers would be instituted within the next three months. He confirmed the deputy principal was already placed on precautionary suspension.
Meanwhile, the investigators also recommended trauma counseling for Mbatha’s family, friends, and classmates, as well as providing training and awareness on bullying and diversity for the school community.
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