'Mean girls' party row at top school
A posh private school in Johannesburg was caught on the back foot when it tried to mediate in a feud between two 12-year-old girls.
Instead of calming troubled waters after a Grade 6 pupil was pointedly excluded from a birthday party in what her parents described as "cyber bullying", staff at Maragon Ruimsig Primary in Roodepoort came under attack for getting involved.
A school newsletter said that following its attempts at peacemaking - "which exacerbated the process" - the school would no longer be used as "a platform to vindicate or escalate personal issues".
The row was sparked when a pupil sent a message to a WhatsApp group of six friends, telling one responsible for sending out the birthday invitations "to add anyone you want except [the girl's name] ... Go wild".'Terribly hurt'
She wrote the message after her wealthy father forbade her to invite the girl. He issued the instruction because his daughter had been insulted by the unwanted guest's father.
The father of the uninvited girl denied insulting the birthday girl, and said his child had been "terribly hurt" at being singled out by name on WhatsApp...
There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.
From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.
For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.
Already subscribed? Sign in below.
Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.