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Vusumuzi Dube Sunday News Reporter
PUPUILS and teachers at Eveline High School were last Monday left in shock when a Form Three pupil got into a trance and claimed to have been initiated into satanism together with fellow pupils. The matter has further sent tongues wagging at the school with allegations that the school head, Mrs Sithabile Moyo, went on to call an emergency assembly where she publicly ridiculed the pupil, claiming she wanted to tarnish the image of the school.
The head is also alleged to have convened a staff meeting where she went on to declare that she would give the pupil a forced transfer.
Teachers and pupils who spoke to this publication revealed that the pupil experienced seizures in class, claiming she was seeing visions. After being sent to the school’s sick bay, she reportedly confided in the school’s psychologist that she had been initiated into satanism together with her friends.
“We understand the psychologist then proceeded to inform the school head, in confidence, but instead of handling the matter, she called an assembly. She went on to publicly ridicule the pupil, saying she should stop lying and tarnishing the image of the school.
“All of us were shocked because we thought that was not the professional way of handling the matter. Worse still, this pupil confided in the psychologist and had expected that this matter would be between her and the psychologist,” said a teacher who preferred anonymity.
It is further alleged Mrs Moyo reached the decision to give the pupil a forced transfer without even convening a disciplinary committee meeting or even sending the pupil on a mandatory suspension while investigations were taking place.
“As teachers we felt that this pupil needs our help. Actually, since she’s saying she was initiated together with her friends, her coming out will also assist her friends to come out so they get help but instead she took a unilateral decision.
“What is more disappointing about this matter is that she has been constantly abusing this child in front of other pupils and she hasn’t even met with the parents. She constantly tells the girl that she will be giving her a forced transfer as she is not Eveline material,” said another teacher.
In an interview with Sunday News, the girl’s mother (name withheld) blasted the school head, saying she was unprofessional in her conduct as instead of informing her of the incident, she was constantly abusing her daughter, which the mother claimed was now affecting the child psychologically.
“What is disappointing is that I heard of this as far back as Tuesday but just from my daughter and through hearsay. The school hasn’t even informed me or called me to tell me officially what is happening. Yesterday (Friday) I had to go to the school trying to get to the bottom of the issue but it was said that the head is not in. They told me that I should come back on Tuesday.
“It is really sad because this has emotionally affected my daughter. She is a naturally intelligent child but her grades have suddenly taken a tumble. If the head is a true professional she should have handled this professionally and at least informed me and not abuse my daughter,” said the mother.
Efforts to get a comment from Mrs Moyo were fruitless. When this reporter called to get her side of the story she hung up her mobile phone which later went unanswered before she switched it off. She also did not respond to a WhatsApp message that was sent to her.
However, acting Bulawayo provincial education director Mr Mathias Luphahla said while his office had not been informed of the incident, it would be illegal for Mrs Moyo to just give a child a transfer letter for no offence at all and without informing the education office.
“As far as I am concerned a parent or guardian is the only one who requests a transfer. However, in cases of indiscipline, the school can suspend the student for 14 days while carrying out investigations but still they have to write informing the provincial education director.
“When they conclude their investigations they still have to apply to either to exclude or expel the student. Excluding is giving the student a transfer letter but in expulsion we are saying they won’t be able to attend any other school. In this case my advice to the parent is that they approach the district education officer and if the issue is not rectified there they can then seek audience with the provincial education director,” said Mr Luphahla.
Early this year, a 17-year-old former Cowdray Park Secondary School pupil hit the headlines when she claimed that she had been initiated into satanism after she went out with her South Africa-based friends to a New Year’s Eve party and returned claiming she wanted to eat her mother’s brains and suck blood from of her sibling’s private parts.
derick.khumalo