Durban school investigates WhatsApp group targeting pupils with abusive posts and altered images - IOL

Shumayela Secondary School in Umlazi is investigating allegations that pupils created a WhatsApp group to mock and harass classmates using insulting messages and altered images.

An investigation is underway at Shumayela Secondary School in Umlazi following allegations that a pupil created a WhatsApp group dedicated to mocking and harassing fellow pupils. 

Pupils and local residents were invited to join the group which allegedly posted altered images of pupils.

It is alleged that a male pupil from the school created the group. 

The messages in the group are written in isiZulu, and some of them read: “Bayazi emakini ukuthi nidayisa ngomzimba" which when translated means “Do your parents know that you are prostitutes".

"Uyambona kodwa umuntu ophila ngamaphilisi eHIV" which meand "You can tell when someone is on HIV treatment".

"Mese kuba itshitshi lokuqina, uyimele bandla iShumayela ngeqiniso lakho lokudliwa ezinqeni", meaning "And then there is this proud virgin, who is representing Shumayela well on being penetrated in the ass". 

School principal Mthokozisi Mabaso, said he was aware of the WhatsApp group. 

"All parents have been informed about the situation and the pupil who allegedly opened the group has been asked to bring his parents to school. Other pupils involved will be called in for interviews on Monday, as this issue came to my attention yesterday (November 12) while I was in the middle of Grade 12 final exams," said Mabaso. 

He also revealed a Facebook page with his picture as the profile had also been created, allegedly by pupils.

The page has since been taken down. 

Mabaso said he was saddened by the issue and interventions were being made to assist the affected pupils. 

The WhatsApp group has about 185 followers and it has not yet been taken down. 

Nonkululeko Ngcobo, acting director of communication and publications for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education, said the department was not aware of the incident. 

"We have zero tolerance for any form of bullying. We will attend to this matter and take disciplinary actions," said Ngcobo.

According to the parents, who spoke anonymously to protect the identity of their children, the group contained dozens of followers and featured altered images and mocking messages aimed at specific pupils.  

The parent urged the school management and education department to take online harassment just as seriously as physical bullying. 

Another parent, said she was anxious about whether her child was in the group of pupils who created the social media groups. 

"My child is currently doing Grade 12 in the school. I am shocked by this reckless behaviour by our children. Many pupils have killed themselves due to being bullied on social media," she said.

She called the school to punish the culprits and ensure that they arrested. 

"Even if my child is one of the pupils who created the social media group, I want him to be punished. Their matric exam papers must be torn apart," said the concerned parent. 

Vee Gani, chairperson of the KZN Parents Association, said  this is an ongoing issue in schools around the country. 

"There are laws in this country that designed this as criminal behaviour. There is a huge problem where pupils are cyber bullied. The messages in the group are tarnishing the reputation of pupils and they can lead to pupils committing suicide, while some cannot cope at school," said Gani.

He highlighted that the behaviour of pupils created the group was wrong. 

"This is criminal behaviour and the culprits must investigated and prosecuted. Cyber bullying needs to be taken serious because it is dangerous," said Gani.

Gani said that custodians of educations must ensure that perpetrators of such criminal behaviour are prosecuted. 

"We cannot afford to have a school where pupils are targeted and mocked. We cannot allow the pupils to make vicious allegations and get away like that," he said. 

Sithembile Memela, chairperson of School Governing Body (SGB), said she was aware of the issue. 

"We only found out about the issue when the school principal posted it on school WhatsApp groups. Some pupils approached the principal complaining about the WhatsApp created to mock them. That is when we found out about the issue," she said.

Memela claimed they had identified the alleged culprit. 

"We have instructed him to return with a parent on Monday, so that we can discuss the issue. Our aim is to get into the bottom of this issue and ensure that the perpetrator faces the music," she said.