A learner at Havenpark Secondary School in Phoenix landed in hospital after he was allegedly attacked by two fellow classmates for refusing to purchase a lollipop from one of his attackers.
The victim, Ashish Sewpersad, who is also asthmatic, sustained injuries on his head and spine as a result of the three attacks levelled against him on that day. Speaking to the Phoenix Tabloid, his mother, Ashika Sewpersad, said she is looking for answers after the vicious attack on her son.
She said: “There was an awards day at the school the day my son was attacked. They were supposed to be dismissed at 10.30am and around 10am, my husband received a call from school informing him to come to school as my son was injured. He immediately called and told me to rush off to school as he was at work at the time. I tried to contact the school to no avail and ended up asking my neighbour to take me to the school. When I arrived at the school, I saw my daughter who is in the same school, crying, I told her to show me where her brother was. The first thing I saw was my son’s shirt, drenched in blood, as he sat and held his hand to his head. He was so shaken, I asked him to show me his wound and he said he was fine. He had a deep gash just above his left temple,” said Sewpersad.
“I asked the principal how did this happen, she said they were not there, they don’t know. After speaking to my son, he told me that while proceeding to his next lesson, his classmate came up to him and asked him to purchase a lollipop from him, my son then said he doesn’t carry spending money and didn’t want the lollipop. This other learner began using vulgar terms with my son and said to him: ‘I will catch you and I will show you later’. He then went and told his friend and they both began ganging up on my son. They pushed him against the wall and started punching and booting him even after he fell to the floor.”
Sewpersad said after her son was taken to the school’s sick room, his attackers followed him and continued to harass him while he lay in the sick room with an open wound on his head. “I don’t know where the teachers or the principal were because these boys went back to the sick room for my son. They harassed and intimidated him so he started walking towards the secretary’s office and that’s when they ran away. I rushed my son to a local doctor in an attempt to get the wound stitched. The doctor said due to my son’s condition, he was unable to do anything on him and advised that I rush him to the hospital. We took him to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital where he lost consciousness and doctors had to work on him. When he regained consciousness, he didn’t know who he was, who I was or where he was,” said the emotional mother.
Ashish was referred to Addington Hospital and later sent to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital for an emergency CT scan. “He couldn’t use his right hand, left leg or feel it. When doctors asked him to clinch his hand, he couldn’t do it. A whole lot of blood tests had to be done on him. We stayed over for two days until we received all the medical results,” said Sewpersad.
She further stated: “I was told that there were teachers around when the attack happened but they just walked away. After the incident, the school did not take any initiative to find out about my son’s condition. I don’t understand how the school thinks this is not a serious enough matter when my son landed in hospital after an attack that happened within the school premises, during school hours and missed out on several days of school work. I want to know from the school and the Department of Education how is this possible that we send our children to school to learn yet they get attacked and assaulted by other learners? My kids are fearful to go to school and feel very unsafe,” added Sewpersad.
Community leader, Pastor Mervyn Reddy, who has been in contact with Ashish’s parents, said: “It is important, especially at the beginning of the school term, for learners who are involved in such attacks to know that it is unacceptable and should not be allowed in schools. The idea of forming cliques to bully vulnerable students is not on and should be dealt with as it is becoming a major concern. The school is responsible to take immediate action when such vicious attacks take place, especially as it was in the school premises and during school hours. They need to ensure that the pupil’s safety comes first, and if this goes out of hand the school will be responsible,” said Pst Reddy.
“We do not want the learner to be confused about the seriousness of the situation and know that there are people who are taking this seriously, therefore the school needs to take the necessary steps to ensure that the learner feels safe at the school again. If the school does not follow the necessary steps and procedures then they should be taken up,” added Pst Reddy.
Phoenix SAPS Communications Officer, Captain Louise Naidoo, confirmed that a case of assault was opened at the Phoenix SAPS. “A Havenpark Secondary School learner from Grade 11 was assaulted by two other learners. As a result of the assault, he sustained a wound to his head and was taken to Addington Hospital,” said Capt Naidoo.
Phoenix Tabloid reached out to the school but the principal declined to comment. However, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education Spokesperson, Kwazi Mthethwa, said they will be looking into the matter.
He said: “We do not condone any form of abuse in our schools. We will follow this matter up with our district officials.”
