A 16-year-old girl accused of beating a fellow pupil on school grounds, and was caught on a cellphone video, has made her first appearance in court.
The teenager faced protesters outside the Mitchells Plain Magistrates’ Court on Thursday who called on authorities to take harsher action against bullies.
CAMPAIGN: Group of protesters gathered outside court. Photo: Genevieve Serra.
Members of Protect Our Angels children’s rights organisation said their anti-bullying campaign was for the many children who were being bullied at school with no help in sight and for those who were suffering from depression because of it.
Some of the posters read: “Stop bullying before it is too late”, “bullying should be taken seriously” and “stay strong, don’t suffer
in silence”.
Both 16-year-old girls, from Beacon Hill Secondary in Mitchells Plain, were suspended on Tuesday and are expected to attend a disciplinary hearing by the School’s Governing Body tomorrow.
The teen was arrested and charged with assault after the video went viral and the alleged victim’s mother saw it.
PROMISE: Alleged bully victim’s ma to tackle abuse. Photo: Genevieve Serra
The victim’s 38-year-old mother shed tears outside court saying the incident has affected her daughter. She said she didn’t want her child to become depressed and suicidal.
“I will not stop fighting this, I am doing this for my daughter and for other children who are being bullied. I will not see that my daughter lands up in hospital or in the grave,” the mom said.
CLIP: Both girls were suspended.
The video was filmed last week at the school showing a girl being smacked, kicked and her hair pulled. She does not retaliate and the fight is broken up by a school boy and a security guard.
The meisie told the Daily Voice she did not know why she was being attacked.
The bully suspect claimed she overheard a conversation between the teen and her friends in which she had threatened to moer her, and she retaliated.
on Thursday, the girl was in consultation with police and the State prosecutor at the Juvenile Court, which allows only the family to be present.
The alleged bully victim was also called for sessions of consultation.
The matter was postponed to 1 October for further investigation.
Shahieda Schoeman of Protect Our Angels says the incident has highlighted bullying at schools.
“We have had incidents where children have taken their own lives. Bullying is very serious and something needs to be done before it’s too late,” Schoeman explains.