School attack: five face charges
2003-03-09 14:09
Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal - An Empangeni High School pupil was allegedly assaulted by six of his classmates last week on the school property during school hours - an attack that has left his family feeling bitter and confused.
Mhlonisihla Mthembu, 16, suffered a broken thumb, has lost the hearing in his left ear and has sustained multiple cuts and bruises.
His school shirt was torn off his back and completely destroyed.
Five of the six attackers were white.
Criminal charges have been brought against five boys - the family have been unable to identify the sixth assailant.
"Our family is very bitter," said Alice Mthembu, the boy's mother and a councillor for the Umhlatuze Municipality.
"We think that the attack might have been racially motivated, because five of the boys are white.
"At the moment I just don't know what to do. I have sent my son back to school, because there is nowhere else to send him.
"But he will not be happy there after he has been attacked by other school pupils." The incident occurred on Thursday last week about 11:00.
According to Mhlonisihla's mother, it began when the boy's teacher, a Mrs Swanepoel, threatened to call the principal to deal with alleged misbehaviour by the boy.
In a fright, he ran out of the classroom. The six boys went after him.
When Mhlonisihla realised that he was being pursued, he ran out of the school grounds.
The six boys caught him just outside the school walls and began to assault him.
The school principal, Francois Thiebaut, has refused to comment and has barred all teachers from talking to the press.
- SAPA