News of scholastic misbehaviour reaches us from the Eastern Cape, via a recent article in Dispatch. One can imagine that the young ladies concerned might find themselves sitting rather uncomfortably once the matters in question have been dealt with…
A VIOLENT spat over school fees brought a rural Transkei school to a standstill – with a gymslip brigade of 23 school girls arrested. The girls – some as young as 14 – spent Women’s Day in holding cells following what the Mbizana school principal said was a violent protest on the school premises.
The Madikizela Senior Secondary School schoolgirls were arrested together with three schoolboys in clashes with the police that left one policeman injured. One student, who did not want to be named, said police were called in after students boycotted classes to demand answers from the school principal and staff about school funds and management….
Other grievances included allegations that caning was still a norm at the school.
The principal, Mbulelo Stonga, said…, “I’m very disappointed with them because they are obedient. I think something is behind them because they are obedient children.” He would not confirm or deny whether teachers caned pupils, saying no-one had filed a complaint about corporal punishment with the authorities.
About 200 schoolchildren in uniforms quietly demonstrated outside the court in support of their schoolmates. The youths face charges of malicious damage to property, assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm and crimen injuria. Magistrate Fezile Mzengana released them all on a warning on Thursday, and the case was postponed to September 27 for further investigation.
We’ll keep an eye out for updates after tomorrow’s hearing!