Publications
Partners
Jeff Wicks, The Witness
Pietermaritzburg - A 14-year-old former Voortrekker High School pupil who was allegedly ritualistically tortured by prefects is demanding a multimillion-rand settlement.
Attorneys acting for the boy’s family have issued letters of demand calling for damages amounting to over R2.5m.
The family’s legal “hit list” includes Education MEC Peggy Nkonyeni, Voortrekker High School and four matric boys who admitted to being part of a sadistic initiation ritual two months ago.
Third-degree burns
The former pupil, who was removed from the school when his parents found evidence of third-degree burns from a steam iron on his body, lifted the lid on the school’s long-standing initiation practice.
The teen’s traumatic ordeal peaked when he was branded with the iron, but was preceded by a three-month spate of physical and emotional abuse, the victim and his mother charge.
The school has remained tight-lipped since evidence of the abuse came to light, and has also insisted that its “investigation” would not be influenced by the police or the KwaZulu-Natal department of education.
The education department’s probe into allegations of a staff cover-up and criminal charges against the boys remain on track, and could see the four matric pupils facing further action.
The mother, her son and the prefects cannot be named because of the sexual nature of some of the allegations.
Six letters of demand, of which The Witness has copies, were sent last week.
They give the education MEC, Voortrekker High School principal Jan Nel and the four pupils 14 days to each pay an amount of R425 000.
Damages
The calculation of damages is broken down as follows:
- Travelling expenses for attending the school’s disciplinary hearing amounting to R8 000;
- Medical expenses incurred by the injured boy amounting to R2 000;
- Future medical expenses to be incurred by the boy amounting to R15 000;
- Pain and suffering amounting to R200 000; and
- Contumelia (humiliation) amounting to R200 000.
If they fail to pay up, further legal action has been threatened.
“Our instructions are to demand from you... payment of the sum of R425 000 within 14 days from date hereof, failing which we are instructed to institute legal proceedings against you,” the letters read.
The deadline for the settlement has since lapsed, and the boy’s mother said they would pursue further legal action.
Confessions
Twelve matric boys are understood to have admitted to taking part in the practice, although the contents of their confessions are not known to The Witness.
The offending pupils escaped with light penalties. They were merely removed from the school’s boarding establishment and barred from sports and attending their matric farewell.
Voortrekker High School governing body spokesperson Marius du Plessis said he was unaware of the letter. “We have not received a summons yet, and cannot comment. We will seek legal advice only if and when we receive formal documentation,” he said.
Education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi could not be reached for comment.
