The mother of a Selborne College pupil who was assaulted by a prefect at this year’s matric dance has vowed to take the school to task if it fails to strip the prefect of his prefect’s badge.
Noluthando Ntongana said her son Avukonke Ntongana, 18, was assaulted twice by a person who was supposed “to maintain discipline and school spirit among pupils at all .”
She alleged that her son was first assaulted at the dance in April, and two days later was punched in the school’s toilets.
The prefect is known to Saturday Dispatch but could not be named as the college refused to release his parent’s contact details. The Dispatch is also unsure of his age.
Steve Bruce, the school’s governing body chairman, confirmed that an assault did take place. Two boys were charged with fighting and appeared before a disciplinary hearing.
Avukonke was acquitted but his attacker was found guilty. He was sentenced to 30 hours of community service and his prefect badge was temporarily removed. Ten hours were suspended.
Ntongana wants the prefect to be stripped of his badge permanently. She said she initially accepted the sanction but was taken aback when the badge was handed back to the prefect on completion of his community service. She claimed the school never told her that this was part of the sanction.
Bruce said a report on the matter which included a summary of the findings of the disciplinary hearings was submitted to the education department.
Education spokesman Mali Mtima said the department welcomed the punishment. “We need to also state that we are impressed by the way the school conducted this,” said Mtima.
Ntongana is unhappy with the department’s response. She has since written to education district director, Sihle Mnguni and education head of department, Ray Tywakadi complaining about the outcome of the sanction. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
Mom fumes over assault of son
Noluthando Ntongana said her son Avukonke Ntongana, 18, was assaulted twice by a person who was supposed “to maintain discipline and school spirit among pupils at all .”
She alleged that her son was first assaulted at the dance in April, and two days later was punched in the school’s toilets.
The prefect is known to Saturday Dispatch but could not be named as the college refused to release his parent’s contact details. The Dispatch is also unsure of his age.
Steve Bruce, the school’s governing body chairman, confirmed that an assault did take place. Two boys were charged with fighting and appeared before a disciplinary hearing.
Avukonke was acquitted but his attacker was found guilty. He was sentenced to 30 hours of community service and his prefect badge was temporarily removed. Ten hours were suspended.
Ntongana wants the prefect to be stripped of his badge permanently. She said she initially accepted the sanction but was taken aback when the badge was handed back to the prefect on completion of his community service. She claimed the school never told her that this was part of the sanction.
Bruce said a report on the matter which included a summary of the findings of the disciplinary hearings was submitted to the education department.
Education spokesman Mali Mtima said the department welcomed the punishment. “We need to also state that we are impressed by the way the school conducted this,” said Mtima.
Ntongana is unhappy with the department’s response. She has since written to education district director, Sihle Mnguni and education head of department, Ray Tywakadi complaining about the outcome of the sanction. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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