A 15-year-old Zimbabwean teenager sadly lost his life after reportedly being forced to drink rat poison by bullies at Queens High School in Johannesburg, in an event that has shocked the surrounding community.
The South African Police Service and the Gauteng Department of Education have launched a comprehensive inquiry into the incident in an effort to capture those responsible.
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Brian Tatenda Mukwereti Ndlovu, a talented rugby player, and avid Liverpool fan, passed away last week at a clinic after experiencing severe stomach complications. Brian confessed to his mother Mildred before his untimely death about the terrifying experience he had gone through at school.
Brian claims that he was physically assaulted and forced to consume the deadly liquid after being trapped by a gang of boys in the school toilet.
Brian went home, distraught and in agony, and asked his mother for consolation. She then hurried him to the hospital. Sadly, despite their best attempts, Brian was lost.
Mildred, distraught at the tragedy, has since pleaded with the authorities to fully investigate it and hold those involved accountable.
She described in her sorrowful account,
“He even mentioned four more boys at the school, who included his best friend, and said, ‘Mama if you do not believe me go and ask my four friends. They know what is happening at that school.’”
The family’s claims are supported by reports of a group of six boys who have been terrorizing their fellow students at Queens High School. Outraged parents have staged protests, demanding stronger measures to address the issue of bullying within the school.
In response to the growing concerns, Matome Chiloane, the Gauteng Member of the Executive Council on Education, visited the school and assured the community that the Department of Education is working closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure a thorough investigation.
While he did not confirm that the cause of Brian’s death was directly linked to bullying, the post-mortem results are expected to shed further light on the circumstances surrounding his tragic passing.
Johan Lourens, the school principal, emphasized that the school takes all reports of bullying seriously. However, he stated that there had been no previous reports of Brian being involved in any bullying incidents at the school.
As the community mourns the loss of Brian, his family has announced a memorial service at the Kings & Queens Funeral Parlour in Doornfontein. The final resting place for the young rugby player will be the West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg, where he will be laid to rest on Saturday.
Queens High School has also announced plans to hold a memorial service in honor of Brian, as the school community comes together to remember the promising young student whose life was tragically cut short.
