Limpopo Police have arrested a 15-year-old school girl for allegedly assaulting another learner, Lufuno Mavhunga, who later died in an apparent suicide.
The suspect, who has been identified as Darlene Candy, is a learner at Mbilwi Secondary School in Thohoyandou. The incident, which was captured on video and went viral on social media, allegedly took place on Monday 12 April 2021 at about 11h30. It was reported to the police on Wednesday morning.
In the video, Candy can be seen brutally slapping the Lufuno relentlessly while she held up her arms to shield her from the blows – she never fought back.
#JusticeForLufuno has trended on Twitter for days.
The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and Kenneth Mavhunga, Lufuno’s brother, told TimesLIVE that Candy allegedly attacked Mavhunga because she blocked her on WhatsApp and Facebook as she was sending insulting messages to her.
The victim, reportedly went home that afternoon and after telling her family what had happened, she allegedly locked herself in the room and consumed an overdose of prescription tablets. She was found unconscious by her mother and taken to Siloam hospital where she was certified dead on arrival. The deceased was also a learner at the same school. An inquest docket has been opened and police investigations are continuing.
Kenneth said, the family believed they had done enough to console his distraught sister when she came home that afternoon.
In an interview with Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga on Jacaranda FM, it emerged that Lufuno had reported incidents of bullying to two teachers before the incident.
The arrested child will be dealt with in accordance with the Child Justice Act.
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