Lufuno Mavhunga, the teenager who committed suicide after an assault incident that went viral. Image: Jacaranda FM.

Kenneth Mavhunga, brother to Lufuno, the teenager who committed suicide on Monday following a bullying by school mates, has called on parents to be more involved in the raising of their children. He was speaking at the memorial service of his sister, which was held at Mbilwi Secondary School on Friday.

Mavhunga said that parents had a role to play in helping the schools fight against bullying, adding that the time had arrived for parents and families to understand their children and play an active role in raising them. Said Mavhunga, “There was someone’s child that was assaulting my sister. I do believe that that child comes from a certain family and there are parents in that family. So, that is why I am bringing it back to you as the families that maybe it is high time, we need to understand our children and make sure that we are very much involved in raising them.”

This must come as a relief to the authorities in the school which had come under fire from the community as well as the department of education whose preliminary investigation seems to have indicated that Lufuno had been lightly rebuffed after reporting earlier incidents of bullying. Minister Angie Motshekga promised to investigate the incident further.

Meanwhile, the girl who is facing assault charges connected to the bullying incident which went viral on social media has appeared in a magistrate’s court in Limpopo. The 14-year-old girl appeared in Thohoyandou Magistrates Court on Friday to answer charges relating to the assault that was recorded on video. The National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said the minor’s court session will be heard in camera, adding that “The arrested child will be dealt with following the Child Justice Act, as she is still a minor. The matter has been remanded to 20 April 2021 for formal bail application.”