WARNING: This article contains information that could affect sensitive readers.
Grade 12 learners from two prestigious high schools in Gqeberha took their “40 days” celebrations too far when their pranks involved alleged animal cruelty.
A few learners from Collegiate Girls’ High School and Grey High School are allegedly responsible for yesterday’s (August 10) vandalism and animal “torture” at Grey High School.
Social media posts by Problem Animal Control specialist and consultant at Urban Raptor Project, Arnold Slabbert, tells the horrific story how a chicken was plucked and tied up in a plastic bag as part of the learners’ pranks.
“I got a call from a caretaker at a local school asking if I could collect a pair of turkeys. Evidently, boys from a well-known high school are celebrating their ’40 days’ before matric exams,” Slabbert wrote on his Facebook page.
“A week or so back, they started at their own school by tying chickens’ legs together and tossing them into the school swimming pool. Last night they visited another school where they trashed sports courts and took the turkeys with, to meet the same fate. Their plans were only foiled, because the pool was drained and undergoing repairs,” a shocked Slabbert said.
Grey High School’s Rector, Christian Erasmus and the School Governing Body Chairperson, Garth Morris, have sent out a letter to parents of the school today, expressing their utter disgrace and shock over the incident.
“Regrettably, and despite very clear instructions and prior warnings, the conduct of a small group of our boys was deplorable and contrary to the ethos and values of our school,” the letter reads.
The letter further states that the school does not yet have a “full picture” of the events, but confirmed that a group of the school’s Grade 12 boys, as well as learners from Collegiate, entered the school “and proceeded to vandalise it by spreading toilet paper, soap, flour, raw eggs and the like” around the school.
“Most concerning was that a very small minority decided to release livestock, both on our campus and on that of Collegiate. In so doing, they displayed a reprehensible and sickening disregard for the animals. The appalling behaviour that has been reported has no place at our school, or anywhere else for that matter.”
The school said it is busy with an investigation and does not yet know the identities of the culprits.
“We have informed the Department of Education and are vigorously investigating the entire saga. We are confident that we will get to the bottom of what happened and who is responsible.
“We will then put appropriate corrective measures in place which will include both sanctions and proactive guidance regarding in particular the matter of cruelty to animals.”
People have been expressing their horror and disgust about this behaviour on Slabbert’s Facebook posts.
Salome Clack wrote: “My hope for the future becomes less every day. There is a self-serving, arrogant, me-me-me attitude amongst the youth. Their lack of respect for anyone other than those in their sphere of reference, class etc is absolutely appalling.”
Carol Ann Kelleher said: “This is an abomination…share this story…and bring all of those guilty of such inhumane behaviour to book!”
Shavonne Hill: “They should be criminally charged! This is just beyond belief.”
