Africa-Press – South-Africa. The South African Council for Educators (SACE) is investigating allegations that a Grade 9 Soweto pupil took his own life after a student teacher mocked him.
News24 previously reported that 15-year-old PJ Simelane Secondary School pupil, Tiro Moalusi, was mocked because he was gay.
On Friday, the Gauteng education department confirmed the probe.
“It is alleged that the learner was discriminated against for his sexual orientation by a student teacher in class during an oral presentation, in full view of other classmates. In the meantime, the department has withdrawn the said student teacher from her duties and a SACE investigating officer has been appointed to probe this matter,” Gauteng Education MEC Mr Panyaza Lesufi said.
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He added that the department sent a safety coordinator to the school.
“We wish to convey our sincere condolences to the family and the school community. We strongly condemn any discrimination by both learners and educators, and we wish to remind all schools that any form of abuse will not be tolerated in our environment,” Lesufi added.
The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is also investigating the circumstances that led to Moalusi’s death.
The SAHRC’s Gauteng head, Buang Jones, said the probe followed media reports on Moalusi’s death and added that it would try to establish whether there was a connection between the pupil’s death and what allegedly happened at the school.
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