Expulsion decision still pending after bullying incident at Pretoria school

The Gauteng Department of Education has confirmed that an application for expulsion was submitted to the office of the head of department (HOD) following a guilty finding on a Schedule 2 misconduct charge in a bullying case at Hoërskool Oos-Moot. However, the department has not confirmed that the learner has been expelled, indicating that the matter is still awaiting the HOD’s decision. Pretoria Rekordreportsthat this comes after a bullying assault video involving two learners at the school in Pretoria has gone viral, sparking outrage online and renewed concern over school safety.

The school has since confirmed in an official statement on their Facebook page that the incident occurred in a bathroom on the school grounds in January and that a disciplinary process was initiated at the time. In the video, two learners are seen in a school bathroom, with one standing against the wall. The taller learner appears to ask the smaller learner something and the smaller learner can be seen responding.

Shortly after, the taller learner appears to slap the smaller learner, then moves in aggressively and pushes his face close to the smaller learner’s face in a threatening manner. In a letter from the school, the chairperson of the student governing body stated that the incident in question occurred last month in a bathroom on the school premises. “The matter was reported to the disciplinary office that same afternoon, and an official investigation into the incident was immediately launched on an urgent basis.

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“After the investigation was completed, which took place within the prescribed time frame, a disciplinary process was initiated against the learners concerned in accordance with the provisions of the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996, accompanying regulations, and the school’s internal code of conduct. A governing body hearing formed part of the said disciplinary process, among other things.” It further stated that, following the relevant disciplinary action, certain sanctions were imposed and that the governing body’s disciplinary committee also made specific recommendations to the head of department of the Gauteng Department of Education. “The school and the governing body are currently awaiting the head of department’s ratification of such recommendations. Gauteng Education Department spokesperson Steve Mabona said they investigated the school’s handling of the matter and were satisfied with how the process was managed.

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