The lives of two Newcastle families have been impacted following an altercation between two 17-year-old boys that led to Newcastle SAPS launching an attempted murder case.
According to Newcastle SAPS, the incident occurred on Wednesday, 15 May 2024, at approximately 10:30 am at Ferrum High School.
A police source explained that the father of one of the boys received a call from the school, informing him that his son had been assaulted during school hours.
Upon arriving at the school, according to the SAPS, the father discovered that his son had indeed been assaulted, with both his lips split open. “The teenager then informed his father that he was summoned by his assailant, but he had refused to go. Four other pupils then picked him up and carried him to the boys’ toilets, where they held him, and the suspect assaulted him,” the police source explained.
According to the police report, during the brutal assault, the 17-year-old assailant allegedly hit the victim so hard that his head struck one of the bathroom walls.
Following the father fetching his son, the police source noted that the father took his son home after the incident was reported to him. However, the situation then took a grave turn. “The teenager started convulsing profusely and was taken to hospital,” explained the police source.
At the hospital, the boy began losing consciousness and was admitted to the High Care Unit. Shortly after, he started having seizures and slipped into a coma.
Newcastle SAPS Spokesperson Lizzy Arumugam explained that an attempted murder case has been opened against the 17-year-old assailant. While the motive for the attack is still being established, she stated, “No arrests have yet been made, and further police investigations into the matter are still underway.”
Ferrum High School was approached for a statement regarding the incident.
Andre Groenewald, the Chairperson of the Ferrum High School Governing Body, confirmed that a physical altercation occurred between two boys in the school bathroom.
Noting that the assailant was currently suspended from school, he stated, “The school is currently investigating the matter to compile statements and gather evidence from all the learners and witnesses involved.”
Groenewald further pointed out that once the investigation was concluded, and if there was prima facie evidence that the learner had breached the school’s code of conduct, the school would go ahead with a disciplinary hearing with the disciplinary committee of the School Governing Body. This would be done to determine the learner’s guilt, and if he was indeed found guilty, the committee would then decide on an appropriate punishment.
The victim’s family was contacted for comment on the incident but could not provide an official statement at this time.
This is a developing story and with investigations into the matter continuing, what are your thoughts on the above?
Share your views in the comment section below.
Comments 38
Why hasn’t the school stationed a security guard near the restrooms? This isn’t an isolated incident; it’s been recurring for years, yet the school seems indifferent to ensuring the safety of its students.
This shocking to say the least. This kind of behavior stems from displine within the parental home, what children are exposed to, also the educators are too soft on displine and rules, the assailant as well as his accomplices should have being arrested and expelled from the school, why wait for further investigations, and then a displinary hearing. This kind of behavior shouldn’t even be tolerated.
School is not what it was 50 years ago .There is no disipline and unfortunately seems school got alot of criminals these days
What do expect from where schools allow all kinds of behavior from pupils as well as educators, and it’s just going to worse, I know at the said school there are educators imposing their sexual preferences on pupils by influcing the pupils on this new non-binary nonsense. Parents are opting for home schooling to protect their children from the behavior of the educators. There is just no more morals, rules or displine in all schools.
I pray that the Ferum boy who was assaulted is OK and the guilty boy is punished this is not on
This should not have been published without all the facts, the fact this is a one sided story tells you everything. We do not know if the “Victim” wasn’t in the wrong either. For all we know it was self defense or the “Victim” was the initiator. I’m not saying the suspect is innocent, but if he is and this was self defense, this article can ruin a young boys life. The publisher obviously got this info from the Victims family as they seem to know exactly what happened to the victim but nothing on the suspect?
How could it be self defense if the victim was carried and held by other boys?
How does one get carried by 4 others not yell for help and not be assisted? During School hours. Where were Staff and other pupils.
ab – That’s allegedly what happened not what actually happened this is a statement from the father who was told by the victim… again very weird no one interviened as this happened during School hours.
According to student at ferrum, no one helped the boy. They all stood there and watched. As for the teachers… they all having tea at the teachers lounge I assume.
Honestly Ferrum isn’t a good school anymore i wanted to send my children there for grade 8 but after this i think I have to rethink it hey
Well said….
The victim had assaulted a 13 years old girl, and was bullying her again that day! That boy took it upon himself to defend her….
Nevertheless, it is very sad for both boys.
As a Ferrum pupil, Im here to say that none of that happen, half this story is utter lies, no one was carried, no one was held down no 13 year old got sexual assaulted, this is pure lies
I think this is insane! Everyone is lying, and now lying to the media and the police! From what I understand, the girl is the cause behind all of this as she was never assaulted. She, after certain photos got out, and to avoid trouble, lied to everyone and cried wolf so that she could avoid the embarrassment of what she did. Now these boys are paying for everything. She never should have lied, just owned up to what she participated in (with the victim), and none of this would have happened. It doesn’t excuse the assault in any way, but I agree, it’s very sad for both boys.
As a parent of a student that goes to Ferrum I can 99% tell that that is the truth!
Some girls just can’t keep there legs shut, and when the truth comes out now she plays the victim. I’m sad for the two boys that got involved with her.
Apparently the victim posted nudes for the sister that’s why the boy assaulted him
Yes fighting over a girl.
Nonsense, that girl lied to her parents and hooked up with the boy in secret. Only after it came out she cried wolf. And carried hooking up with the boy at the school bathroom. No saint there!
Who is he to go around defending girls? If the victim assaulted a 13 year old girl why didn’t she tell her parents or the school?… This boy is defending girls he’s Batman? Please don’t talk shit here very big ideas this boy got to be defending other people’s children. Keep all the stupid and dumb thing’s you’ll saying to yourselves please. Everyone is saying it’s very sad for both boys how is it sad for both boys was the other boy in hospital? I don’t understand why it’s sad for both boys it’s only sad for the boy that was In hospital. The other boy wants to behave like Batman and think he’s the TOP G first time I hear that a child is defending another child shame. You go to school to learn to do sport get good marks finish school and go study you don’t go to school to defend girls. Especially if she isn’t anyone to you by blood or anything.
Did you read the article the Victim was summoned by the assailant, when refusing the assailant, got his friends( also guilty in the incident) to escourt the victim by picking him and carrying to the assailant and also holding the victim while the assailant beat the victim, reading your comment shows you in favour of what happened, the assailant and his accomplices are guilty of attempted murder, yet nothing except a suspension has being dealt to him. He is obviously a troubled boy who believes in beating a person up is the way to solve an issue, which is absolutely unacceptable he could have used his mouth and common sense to solve the problem no instead he used violence which is a poor reflection on his parents for bringing up a child who believes in violence. This assailant should be dealt with more firmly by a attempted murder case being opened as well as his accomplices, as for the parents of this assailant they should be able to explain why their son has turned into a juvenile delinquent. As for the educators who are at the school did they not see a child being picked up by 4 other boys, could they not investigate or did they also turn a blind eye to this. Now they want to take action in the meantime a child is laying in a coma and parents left with unanswered questions, I as a parent wouldn’t want to face my child’s attacker I would rather see him being punished. Not just a suspension, you talk about the assailant’s life being ruined have you thought how the victim’s life could be ruined after such a brutal attack, you should feel ashamed by defending an assailant’s honor.
Your being a bigot. What happened to the victim is firstly allegedly as its one side of the story from a police report from what the father described which was told to him by the victim. No one here is inciting violence and it’s not the answer to the problems but what if this isn’t what officially happened? Until all facts come to light you shouldn’t begrudge the assailant when you yourself were not there. Everything is still being investigated. To side with a story without knowing both sides is irresponsible and the reason why we have a justice system everyone is innocent until proven guilty. You can use the victim is in a choma but that’s based of what the parents stated. You cannot say the assailant is a delinquent if you know not their character. Or the facts of what happened. If this was self defense should the assailant been the one to go into a choma? Should one not defend themselves when in danger? So cops should not fight back and are delinquent as they use force to fight force? Let’s wait for the facts and if the assailant is guilty he should receive punishment but if not…
Raymond no child should be beat by other children no matter what, you clearly not seeing that violence isn’t the answer to resolving issues, even if the victim was wrong, the assailant had bo right to beat him to a point where THE SCHOOL HAS SUMMON THE FATHER OF THE VICTIM AND EXPLAIN HIS CHILD HAD BEING ASSASULATED. SO YOU IMPLYING THE SCHOOL HEADS ARE LIARS. trust me if my child had to assaulted by another person I would open a case and make sure justice be served on the assailant, still say that a suspension is too light, the assailant is still free where a child is in a coma.
The article clearly says the victim was summoned upon refusing he was picked up and carried to the assailant by 4 other boys( also should face suspension) and the consequences of holding the victim while he beaten up, this kind of behavior shows how children react to situations, don’t you think the assailant should have rather sorted the issue out in a non violent manner maybe by talking through the situation or do you also believe that violence solves problems, there are parents who have unanswered questions and then you have parents whose child is guilty of attempted murder, suspension is an adequate punishment.
Don’t even.
Covering up for an assualt is crazy
The assault is indicative of a sick society which reflects on the standard of parenting and the upbringing of children. The function of a teacher is to EDUCATE .
The duty of a parent is to teach their children DISCIPLINE and RESPECT. If you cannot teach your children these basics of acceptable social behaviour, you failed dismally in your duty as a parent.
SS wrote :
” ………. I know at the said school there are educators imposing their sexual preferences on pupils by influencing the pupils on this new non-binary nonsense……”
SS, be very careful of such remarks…….. he , or she. who alleges must provide proof
No matter what brought about the incident, a boy is in hospital and in a coma. We pay school fees to send our children to a place where there is supposed to be supervision and management and this should not happen; especially at a school held in high regard. How does someone get beat so badly and not a prefect or teacher is around the intervene. Every time I hear something about Ferrum it sounds worse than the previous incident.
True where were prefects
The teachers ans prefects responded immediately, he was just hit so fast that they couldn’t respond fast enough. And as for the coma that isn’t true
Was the boy that attacked suspended on the day of the assault or only after police got involved??? Some schools don’t really reprimand Rugby boys for some reason they keep them on a pedestal for the sack of winning.
what doesn’t make sense is that the boy who committed the assault was suspended, what about the boys who helped drag the victim into the bathroom? On top of that all this really tells other students is that you can beat someone to a pulp and get a few weeks off school, this isnt a minor assault case the boy is sitting in hospital why haven’t the people involved with the attack been expelled? I think it’s safe to say that the people involved are all young adults and therefore should know the difference between right and wrong and they should be punished accordingly.
I’ve been to Ferrum High School every bathroom in the school is positioned next to a classroom except for the sport bathrooms which usually remain locked throughout the day, how on earth was a student beat so badly in one of those bathrooms and there wasn’t a single teacher or prefect around to intervene, another thing that id like to bring to everyone’s attention is a few years ago a disciplinary head was appointed by the board of the school for reasons exactly like this as far as I know his sole purpose is to walk around the school and ensure that this exact thing doesn’t happen , where was he during all of that , the fact that a student can be carried to a bathroom unnoticed and then beat into a coma is disgraceful.
People didn’t carry him, he knew they were in the bathroom ans a teacher responded immediately
As a Ferrum student who knows the whole story, I can confirm that some parts of this article are lies which is tarnishing the schools name !!!
Yes the boy did get beat up and was hospitalised which is really bad and extreme disciplinary action need to take place but no one carried him to the bathrooms, that is an utter lie I don’t know who came up with that, the writer needs to get his facts straight And as for the teachers I can say that they handled it really well because it all happend soo fast that they didn’t know about it and couldn’t stop it in time. But A teacher was at the scene almost immediately and prefects also showed up and split up the fight. I can also confirm that it is safe in bathrooms. The boy didn’t just walk in and get beat up, he knew that they were there and wanted to fight.
Good day, the article is based on the police report and clearly states this fact. If you have any questions regarding the matter you are more than welcome to contact the Newcastle SAPS and discuss the details of their report.
I think many of you need to calm down and read the article properly. Everything said was as per SAPS and Ferrum’s statement. Newspapers can’t speculate, surely you know this. So once the kids stop lying, the cops and Ferrum will know the truth. We all know children lie, especially if they were naughty.
He is old enough to know that his action could have led to a fatality. He needs to be tried as an adult for his crime
This child was severly assaulted. There is no excuse for the boys’ behaviour! How does this even happen in a school where your child should be safe? I hope that the law runs its course and justice is served!!!!
Fortunately or unfortunately we have to hear all three sides of the story before drawing any conclusions. The media is guided by it’s code and conduct and should not be biased in any manner, there are laws that govern the media and a deeper insight can be initiated after the core of the matter has been adequately addressed and a remedy or even before a remedy has been prescribed or administered by the Newcastle courts.
This is a grave tragedy. However the school and the secuirty company should not be exonerated for their neglect of the two learners under their care.
It is said that when two elephants are fighting it is the grass that suffers and the grass is in this matter are both IThemba Security, and Ferrum High School.
Now that we have established all three pupils concerned are minors, thus under the age of 18years. (Umles married or emancipated by the coyrts) We will still need birth certificates to confirm that as well.
We also take note that of the role players, thus those who have a duty to safe guard the child’s health, well being and development; to protect the children from any maltreatment physical, emotional, or mental harm or hazards. Even degradation, discrimination, neglect and abuse. This we refer to Children’s Act s32(1) (a)(b)
These role players(iThemba security and Ferrum High School) subject s129 of the same children’s Act a person referred to in ss(1) may exercise any parental responsibilities and rights reasonably necessary to comply with ss(1), this involves the right to to consent any medical examination or treatment of the child if such consent cannot be reasonably sourced from parents or the guardian/s of the child.
Please pay attention that s32 clearly states that Any person who assumes the role of the caregiver of the child, either voluntarily or by agreement, will be held liable and be responsible for the condition of the childs health, development and safety in a win emergency situations.
Refer to AS v Presiding Officer, Children’s CourtbKrugerdorp and others 2012 (6) SAID 45 (GSJ). Section 150 of the same act was emphasised, we searching for the principle, how are learners supported at the school whist in the care of the those in contract or agreement to take upon the the duty to do so.
In conclusion of my thoughts, we need to take note that the High Court is the upper guardian of the child, meaning it has more parental powers than even the child’s mother and father and guardian put together.
2) The High Court has the best interest at heart for the child. S28(2) of the the Constitution of South Africa.
Lastly s8(1) The provisions of the Constitution of South Africa can be applied both vertically and horizontally.
Section 8(2) The administration of the children’s Act is, and has been, the joint responsibility of legal practitioners and behavioural scientists in South Africa for the past decade. The departments of Justice and Constitutional Development and of Social Development were each instructed to issue Regulations regarding the sections of the Act the administer primarily.
For more official enquiry or enquiry on record the newspaper can supply our office details for pro bono work. Thank you. Kevin Pohotona Inc (Attorneys).