Learners come forward in Collegiate’s 40 Days scandal
The principal of Collegiate Girls Secondary School in Nelson Mandela Bay has confirmed that some learners have come forward to disclose the nature and extent of their involvement in allegations of vandalism and animal cruelty.
Matric Learners at Gray High School and Collegiate are accused of serious acts of vandalism and animal cruelty during their so-called ’40 Days’ celebration last week.
The drama shocked not only animal activists, but the general public.
Principal Louise Erasmus would not disclose the number of students who came forward, but said the investigation was ongoing and once it was completed disciplinary action would be taken.
In a letter sent to parents on Friday, Erasmus gave a breakdown of exactly what happened in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
She says she entered the school premises shortly after 1 a.m. and a security guard alerted authorities who arrived shortly after.
The extent of the damage was discovered at 6 a.m.
Erasmus, there was damage to netball courts which were covered in flour, powdered sauce and food, while hockey goals were wrapped in glossy paper and some shifted down the aisle.
Garbage cans were knocked over, toilet paper strewn across campus and material pulled from the Astro-turf.
She says two turkeys were found on the Astro-turf, while a chicken was found sheltering in the quad between the ivy leaf and the resource center entrance.
All the animals were rescued and the chicken has since been safely placed on a smallholding.
Erasmus says the children involved wore masks.
Meanwhile, Gray High School says they are still gathering all the facts and interviewing the boys allegedly involved in the case.
Gray says he works closely with Collegiate and has signed up with Animal Anti Cruelty which will help him move forward.