The two bullies who assaulted a fellow pupil have been handed a five-day suspension and community service.
|||Durban - The two Chatsworth bullies who pleaded guilty at a disciplinary hearing to assaulting a fellow pupil, have been handed a five-day suspension and 20 hours of community service.
They will also have to present a talk at a school assembly on the need to adhere to the school’s code of conduct.
The two teens - who said they were insulted and provoked into the attack - are also facing criminal charges of assault.
But the victim’s family have described the punishment as being far too lenient.
On Monday, the bullies pleaded guilty before an independent disciplinary tribunal set up by their school, Marklands Secondary in Shallcross, after the attack on Grade 11 pupil Zhane Abubakr, 18.
Education superintendent-general, Nkosinathi Sishi, said the tribunal, made up of principals from other schools, had met and presented a report, which he had seen.
The report was, however, not yet formally presented to Marklands’ principal, who was unavailable on Tuesday, or to the parties involved.
“Both boys pleaded guilty to the charges and the findings of the tribunal are that any instances of assault are unacceptable as they go against the constitution as well as the school’s code of conduct,” Sishi said.
“The pupils are aware of the rules and have issued written statements admitting their guilt although both insist they were insulted and provoked.”
Sishi said the two pupils would still have to present themselves to school, in uniform, during their suspension to request school work for each day.
“They would also have to serve 20 hours of community service during a four-week period at a recognised institution and present a talk at a school assembly on the need to adhere to the school’s code of conduct.”
Sishi said those involved had five days in which to appeal the decision. “We’ve observed the process and we’re happy to see the people on the tribunal are competent and impartial. The processes are really in agreement with departmental policy.”
He said this form of “corrective justice” was encouraged.
“We understand the boys must be dealt with and accept responsibility but they mustn’t be condemned. The process must be used to rebuild the child.”
Tim Gordon, chief executive of the Governing Body Foundation, had mixed feelings about the five-day suspension.
Gordon said schools were previously allowed to hand down lengthy suspension periods on pupils who contravened school rules, but were now prevented from keeping pupils away for more than a week.
However, he felt lengthy suspensions were counter-productive.
“The school and the department have done everything they could to ensure that policies were carried out,” he said. “Whatever remains beyond this is something the criminal justice (system) will have to look into.”
Abubakr’s grandfather, Bobby Moodley, said: “This means school kids can drink alcohol, use drugs, and do other things that are against school policy and they will get a week-long suspension,” he said. “It’s ridiculous.”
Daily News