Court overturns school sanctions for learners caught vaping in hostel

HARSH PUNISHMENT

- ZELDA VENTER

THE Western Cape High Court has ruled that disciplinary actions taken against two pupils, for vaping in the school’s hostel, were unlawful, as the school’s governing body twice punished them for the same offence, which amounts to double jeopardy.

The now Grade 10 pupils were twice found to be vaping. The first incident was at the end of 2023 when they were in Grade 8, and the second incident was last year, a few months down the line.

During the 2023 incident, both pupils, only identified as L and M, were expelled from the hostel for a few months. However, when the incident occurred again the following year, both were permanently expelled from the hostel.

A few days later, the school yet again sanctioned them for the same offence for which it had expelled them from the hostel. This time, they were stripped of their leadership qualifications, and their bursaries were taken away from them.

Both boys are rugby players and were admitted to the school (which is not identified to safeguard the identities of L and M) through bursaries.