Teenager Arrested, Education Department to Take Action: #JusticeForLufuno

Thursday, April 15, 2021 at 5:35 PM by Reeshni Chetty

- The incident involving a group of teenagers that resulted in the untimely suicide of a 15-year-old is making headlines

- Lufuno Mavhungu's bully was recently arrested and is being charged for assault as a minor

- The Education Department is also investigating the teachers employed at the school where Lufuno was bullied as the situation had apparently been reported

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A 15-year-old Limpopo Mbilwi Secondary School learner has been arrested following the devastating death of Lufuno Mavhungu by suicide. The suicide came shortly after Mavhungu was allegedly assaulted by the learner who has been arrested while other learners laughed and recorded the incident.

The learner who is seen in the video as the aggressor has been charged with assault as a minor in line with the Child Justice Act.

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15-year-old Lufuno fatally succumbed to an overdose on Monday after she was allegedly assaulted at school. Footage of her assault was captured by fellow learners.

JusticeForLufuno: Teenager Arrested, Department to Take Action — The teenager who allegedly assaulted Lufuno Mavhungu has been arrested. Image: MARCO LONGARI/AFP and EMMANUEL CROSET/AFP
Source: Getty Images

According to TimesLIVE, Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed that an inquest docket had been opened regarding Mavhunga's death and a police investigation was moving forward.

Mojapelo stated that the 15-year-old had been arrested on Wednesday after a case of assault was opened that morning at the local police station. The report continued by saying that Mavhunga's older brother Dakalo said the perpetrator attacked his sister because she blocked her on WhatsApp and Facebook as she had been sending insulting messages to her.

IOL reported that ‘learner support agents’ have been assigned by the education authorities in Limpopo to provide emotional support to learners who need it.

Bullying can be prevented if the right steps are taken. Students and others are advised to talk to someone they trust about the issues they are facing. If you or anyone you know may be a victim of bullying or is facing any sort of mental trauma, contact one of the South African hotline numbers below: