A family in Vosloorus is reeling in shock and pain after 16-year-old Thapelo Motha was brutally attacked at school — allegedly over something as simple as his schoolbag.
Thapelo, a Grade 10 learner at Thuto Lesedi Secondary School, is now fighting for his life in ICU after he was reportedly beaten by a group of boys on Tuesday, 23 July.
His devastated mother, Nomthandazo Ndaba (39), shared how a normal school day turned into a nightmare. She received a call from the school informing her that her son had been in a fight. But nothing prepared her for what she saw when she arrived.
“I rushed to the school thinking maybe it was just a scuffle,” she said. “But when I got there, my child was lying there bleeding, vomiting, and barely breathing. It was the most terrifying moment of my life.”
Thapelo was immediately rushed to hospital, where doctors admitted him directly into the Intensive Care Unit. He had suffered a fractured nose and severe trauma to his face. Surgeons have since operated on his left eye, which was badly injured in the assault.
Nomthandazo says the most painful part is that her son never told her he was being bullied.
“I didn’t know he was going through this,” she said. “He kept it all to himself. Now he’s lying in a hospital bed, unable to see properly — all because a group of boys wanted to take his schoolbag. My child nearly died because of this.”
The family has opened a case with the police, but they feel more needs to be done. They’re calling for serious action against the alleged attackers and the school’s lack of proper intervention.
“This isn’t just a fight — it’s attempted murder,” Nomthandazo said. “Those boys need to face the law. And the school must be held accountable. Where were the teachers? Where was the supervision?”
The incident has sparked outrage in the community, with parents calling for stronger anti-bullying measures and safer school environments.
“Schools are supposed to protect our children,” said one concerned parent. “We send them there to learn, not to come back in an ambulance.”
The Gauteng Department of Education has not yet released an official statement, but the matter is under investigation. Meanwhile, Thapelo remains in ICU under close medical care. His family is hoping for his full recovery — but they know the road ahead will be long and painful.
As the community rallies around the Motha family, there is one clear message: **No child should suffer violence in a place meant for learning.
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