Grade 2 girl faces knife threat from classmate at Belhar Primary School
Belhar Primary School faces scrutiny as a mother shares her daughter's harrowing experiences of bullying and threats from a classmate.
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An angry mother of a Grade 2 learner at Belhar Primary School has revealed shocking details of bullying suffered by her daughter allegedly at the hands of a classmate who has since been found guilty during a disciplinary hearing.
The little girl has been harassed by a boy in her class, with the mom revealing he threatened the girl with a knife in one incident and forcefully kissed her in another.
The mom said they have had meetings with school authorities and that the boy was disciplined but that he continues to harass her daughter.
She said: “In May, he brought a knife to school and threatened the kids in the class and my daughter as well.
“Then in June, he forcefully restrained her, put her hands behind her back and forcefully tried to kiss her.
“He said that my daughter doesn’t like him and could not understand why she was not submissive towards him.”
The mom said that her daughter has since received counselling, however she has decided to place her in a new school due to the bullying, following numerous meeting with the school.
She added: “It seems like they are making promises and nothing is coming from it. I have sent emails to the school, but there has been no response or clear indication of bullying.
“Until today the boy has been bullying my child. Meetings have been requested, I have been present but the boys’ parents aren’t there.”
Western Cape Education Department (WCED) spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said that the matter is receiving serious attention and that a disciplinary hearing was held following an investigation.
Hammond said: “The perpetrator was found guilty and sanctioned. However, since the incident, there has been ongoing allegations of continued bullying behaviour despite the counselling sessions and interventions."
She added that the WCED have tried to engage with the parents of the boy to discuss ongoing or alternative support for him, however have found it challenging.
The learners have been separated in classes and educators have been made aware to ensure that the situation is monitored.