“This Is Disrespect”: SA Man’s Car Left Soaking After Spring Day Pranksters Splash Water Inside
- J.J. Mbonani shared a TikTok video showing the waterlogged interior of his car after Spring Day celebrations in Sgandaf, Winterveldt
- The Gauteng man said kids unexpectedly opened his car door and drenched the inside while he was still seated inside
- South Africans online were divided over whether the incident crossed a line or was simply part of Spring Day fun
- Briefly News writer Gloria Masia spoke to teacher Miss Tladi, who shared her views on why disciplining learners has become increasingly difficult and how changes in parenting, schools and social media may be influencing their behaviour
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Source: TikTok
A Winterveldt man’s Spring Day took a costly turn after a group of youngsters targeted his parked car in the Sgandaf section of the township.
J.J. Mbonani posted a TikTok video showing the inside of his vehicle completely soaked. Seat covers, the dashboard area, and the centre console were all drenched. A document, hopefully not a quotation from an auto parts supplier, could be seen lying wet on the seat.
Mbonani explained that the pranksters opened his car door while he was still inside and splashed him and the interior with water before he could do anything about it.
Spring Day celebrations get out of hand
Spring Day, celebrated on 1 September each year in South Africa, is widely known for water fights, particularly in townships and schools. What started as a playful seasonal tradition has, in recent years, become increasingly associated with incidents where people are soaked without their consent, and property is damaged in the process.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
Sgandaf is a neighbourhood within the large township of Winterveldt, situated in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, north-west of Pretoria in Gauteng. Like many townships across the country, the area sees lively Spring Day celebrations that can sometimes go too far.
See the TikTok video below:
Mzansi reacts to the flooded car
The video struck a nerve with South Africans, with many calling out the behaviour as unacceptable:
@TeeRayzA said:
“This is very disrespectful.”
@Sehakweng Sharon asked:
“Is it wrong to open a case against them?”
@Raphoto: Pedagogue noted:
“Parents will defend their kids as usual.”
Miss Tladi told Briefly News writer Gloria Masia that greater awareness of children’s rights is positive, but can sometimes lead learners to believe they are protected from consequences.
“It is definitely becoming more and more difficult to discipline children in the classroom. In today’s digital age, parents and children have a lot of knowledge about all the acts put in place to protect them. Don’t get me wrong, this is actually a good thing. The problem is that it sometimes creates resistance. Some learners may misinterpret their rights as protection from consequences. They become more willing to challenge school authorities.”
The teacher, who has six years of experience in education, said she has noticed a major shift in the relationships between learners, parents and teachers, with discipline needing to start at home rather than being left entirely to schools.
“I have been an educator for 6 years. I often ask colleagues who have been in teaching for longer if it has always been this bad, and the answer is always ‘no’. The relationships between learners, parents and teachers have changed drastically. The learners feel untouchable. Parents come to school to ask the teacher what they should do to discipline their kids. Unfortunately, if the child is a problem at home, then they will bring that to school."
"Discipline cannot be taught at school alone because learners’ behaviour is influenced by the environment in which they grow up. Parents have the responsibility to establish discipline at home, while schools reinforce these values through rules and expectations. However, when schools and parents have conflicting expectations, it can become more difficult for learners to follow appropriate standards of behaviour.”
Miss Tladi added that home remains the foundation of a young person’s behaviour, while peer pressure, negative relationships at school and social media can further influence how learners behave.
“Young people’s behaviours are influenced by all the above. Home is the foundation. Peer influence is also great because of the pressure to fit in. Negative learner-teacher relationships may contribute to behavioural problems. Social media amplifies behaviour as they are exposed to a lot of opinions every day. Reckless behaviour can be made attractive when posts receive likes and attention."
3 more Spring Day events
- A video of an old man defending himself against a Spring Day water prankster went viral on TikTok on 2 September.
- Moruti Majomane Makgato Machaba claims he was attacked by children in Tembisa on 1 September during Spring Day celebrations.
- A 21-year-old man died after an altercation broke out during Spring Day celebrations in Refilwe, Cullinan.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
