Africa-Press – South-Africa. Mpumalanga police could not confirm allegations that a Grade 11 Hoërskool Kriel pupil who died by suicide had been falsely accused of raping a fellow pupil.
Bafana Sithole died in a classroom on 17 November, and police as well as the provincial education department are investigating the circumstances that led to his death.
Allegations emerged on social media that a fellow pupil accused Sithole of rape but that she later retracted her claim and said it was a joke.
Vetten added:
“When this thing is all over social media, it will mean that in 15 years, people might be able to google her and find this. There must be another way of handling this issue differently from how one would deal with an adult. [It] must be done in a way that she can be reincorporated back into society and not carry this for the rest of her life,” she said.
Earlier in the week, the Commission of Gender equality conveyed its condolences to Sithole’s family.
In a statement, commission spokesperson Javu Baloyi said they were saddened by Sithole’s death and implored police ensure that justice takes its course.
“We are also aware that the Department of Education has indicated they will determine the course of action to be undertaken as soon as it receives a report from the investigation team, while the police have opened an inquest into the cause of death of the pupil.”
Baloyi added that the commission would monitor the police and departmental investigations, as well as the inquest.
The commission encouraged men and boys to open cases after any form of abuse, harassment and/ or bullying.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, you can contact the SA Depression and Anxiety Group’s (Sadag) 24-hour mental health helpline at 0800 456 789; Sadag’s WhatsApp counselling line, which operates from 09:00 to 16:00, at 076 882 2775, the SA Federation for Mental Health at 011 781 1852 and LifeLine South Africa at 0861 322 322.
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