Soweto girl dies after bullying allegation

"This matter only came to our attention yesterday [Monday]," spokeswoman Phumla Sekhonyane told Sapa.

 

"An independent investigation has been instituted to investigate the circumstances around this incident."

The Daily Sun reported that Lebohang Makala returned home from school on February 14 limping and with swollen legs.

 

She told her mother Martha Makala that three boys hit her for no reason while she was playing with other girls at the Batsogile Primary School.

  

"Lebohang said one of the boys hit her on the head with his fist. She said the boys attacked her, threw her to the floor, and kept on hitting her," said the mother.

 

Apparently no teachers were at the school at the time, and other children could not find anyone to help Lebohang, who lay helplessly on the ground.
  

The family took the girl to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital where X-rays were taken and medication given to her.

 Lebohang returned home.

"She was crying in pain all day. She couldn't sleep and cried all night," her mother told the newspaper.

The family took her back to the hospital on Thursday and she died on Friday, a week after the attack.

Doctors told the family Lebohang had excessive internal bleeding, according to the publication.

Sekhonyane told Sapa the school had failed to report the incident to the department.

   

On Monday, her parents went to the department and the local police station to report the matter.

 

"We immediately dispatched a team to the school, as well as a team to assist with counselling for the mother of the deceased and the school," she said.

 

"We are looking into why this matter was not reported to the Gauteng department of education head office."

  

Sekhonyane said officials had met Lebohang's parents on Monday but could not divulge details of their conversation.

 

"All they have told us will form part of the investigation. I am not able to talk about what was discussed. It is very tragic and we are very concerned."

   

Sekhonyane was unable to talk about the incident itself or the girl's injuries.

 

"That will form part of the investigation," she said.

 

Sekhonyane was also unable to comment on whether the family would be compensated.

 

"I can't comment on that. We are supporting the family in every way we can."

 

Police spokesman Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela told Sapa a case was opened on Monday.

 

"It was only opened yesterday by the parents. There was no case reported to the police before that," he said.

"The school did not open a case."

He said police did not know what injuries the girl sustained.

 

"We just got [information] that the child was injured in school."

 

Makhubela said the matter would be investigated.

 

"The circumstances of what transpired will be looked into."

 

  

-Sapa