The North West Education Department has taken steps to dispel misinformation currently circulating on social media, featuring a picture of a 54-year-old woman who has been arrested for allegedly beating a 12-year-old student to death for not wearing proper school uniform.
In a statement released on Monday, following a joint investigation with the South African Police Service, the department confirmed that the story associated with the widely shared image is false.
The department said the incident did not happen in any school in the province.
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According to the department, the material was deliberately fabricated and shared on social media with an intention to mislead the public and tarnish the image of the department.
The provincial department has condemned the spread of misinformation and urged members of the public to verify information before sharing it on digital platforms.
Anyone with credible information related to the case is encouraged to report it to the relevant authorities.
Reaffirming its commitment to the safety and well-being of all learners, the Department said it will continue to work closely with law enforcement agencies to address and counter misinformation that could cause panic or damage reputations.
The MEC for education in the province, Viola Motsumi, has also warned the public against sharing unverified content.
“The public is cautioned against sharing fake information which has not been verified by the department. The primary objective of these disseminated messages is to mislead members of the public and create panic among them.”
Motsumi also stressed the department's ongoing commitment to protecting the dignity, safety and well-being of both learners and teachers in schools.
He said that challenges within schools will continue to be addressed in an honest and transparent manner.
The department reiterated that the public should trust the information shared through its official communication channels to ensure its authenticity.