Motsumi urged the public to exercise caution before sharing unverified content, stressing the importance of trusting reliable sources.
The North West Education Department has rejected a viral social media claim alleging that a 54-year-old woman was arrested for beating a 12-year-old student to death over a school uniform dispute, calling the story a complete fabrication.
No such incident has come to light in the investigation
The MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi, said on Monday that the department had worked with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to investigate the claims linked to the widely circulated image.
Authorities found no evidence of such an incident at any school in the province, confirming that both the image and its accompanying story were used to spread misinformation.
“Working closely with the South African Police Service, the department has investigated the matter and can confirm that the story associated with the image is completely false and did not occur at any school in the North West province,” the department said.
'Deliberately fabricated' material
The department said the information was deliberately created and shared online to mislead the public and damage its reputation.
“The information was deliberately fabricated and shared on social media with the intention of misleading the public and maligning the image of the department,” it said.
Authorities condemned the spread of misinformation, warning that such content could create unnecessary panic among parents, students and teachers.
Motsumi urged the public to exercise caution before sharing unverified content, stressing the importance of trusting reliable sources.
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“The public is cautioned against sharing fake information that has not been verified by the department. The primary purpose of these disseminated messages is to mislead the public and create panic among them,” Motsumi said.
He said the department is committed to transparency and will continue to openly address challenges within schools.
commitment to security
The Department reiterated its commitment to protect the dignity, safety and welfare of both students and teachers.
“MEC Motsumi stressed that the department will continue to protect the dignity, safety and well-being of all teachers and learners in schools,” the statement said.
Members of the public are encouraged to report any credible information relating to the case to the relevant authorities, while also relying on official departmental communication channels to verify information.
The department said it would continue to work with law enforcement agencies to combat misinformation that could harm communities or undermine trust in the education system.
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