Illustrative Image: Eastern Cape MECs for education, Fundile Gade (left), and transport, Xolile Nqatha (right), are investigating after a video surfaced showing a learner being bullied on a school bus. The middle image was taken from a video that has been distributed on social media. (Photo: Gallo Images / Die Burger / Lulama Zenzile) | Screengrab (Image: Sourced / Facebook / Tinashe Eugene Mushanguri) 
The driver of a scholar transport bus was suspended on Sunday for failing to intervene while an 18-year-old learner was being “assaulted and humiliated by learners in his presence”, the Eastern Cape Department of Transport announced on Sunday.
Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha said that he saw the footage of the 18-year-old learner being assaulted by three boys on the school bus.
“The learners were being transported home from a school in Mdantsane last week when the incident occurred. Disturbingly, another girl can be heard not only laughing as she was filming the incident, but could also be heard somewhat encouraging the act to continue, assuring the bullies that she was not going to share the footage,” Department of Transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose said.
Beaten and slapped
The video clearly shows the learner being beaten by boys on the bus and also slapped after the children left the bus.
“The driver didn’t even blow on the hooter,” Binqose said. “He did nothing.”
The assault and humiliation of the young learner was said to have begun inside the bus, not far from the driver’s seat and continued outside the vehicle. MEC Nqatha said the lack of intervention by the driver was as appalling as the assaults the young learner was subjected to, as recorded in the video.
“The driver has shown disturbing signs of not being able to spot danger and attend to it. The safety of the learners is the driver’s responsibility, and that extends beyond just road safety. The drivers are also expected to concern themselves with any behaviour that puts the safety of the passengers at risk,” Nqatha said.
The MEC has offered his support to the young girl and her family, committing to working closely with the Department of Education and any other relevant authorities to get to the bottom of the case.
“What the young girl was subjected to is a classic case of bullying, and as a government, we will deal with it without any fear or favour, wherever it rears its ugly head. Our support goes out to the young girl and her family. And our laser focus will be on dealing with all those who were involved in this despicable conduct,” Nqatha said.
Investigation
The education department echoed Nqatha’s sentiments, saying the behaviour recorded on the video was unacceptable and unimaginable.
“This unbecoming behaviour is projecting a deep societal problem that needs every parent to take responsibility [for] in raising his/her kids,” Eastern Cape education department spokesperson Mboxela Ceduma said.
She indicated that the department would visit the learner’s school, David Mama Senior Secondary School in Mdantsane, East London, on Monday.
“All the involved learners need to be corrected so that they can be better citizens. The department does not tolerate any form of bullying in all its schools. The department will make sure that the affected learner receives the needed psychosocial support,” Ceduma said. DM