Student wins bullying case

Amara Mooloo says the college launched disciplinary proceedings against her instead of addressing the claims

- Edwin Naidu

(John McCann)

A Pretoria law student has won an institutional bullying case after being allegedly subjected to racism and then accused of disrupting class at a private university owned by JSE-listed company Advtech.

Amara Mooloo was initially sanctioned with expulsion “in perpetuity” from the Independent Institute of Education (IIE) Varsity College in Pretoria in August, after she had complained about the racism she experienced from a fellow student at a party.

When the student was abused and belittled afterwards by classmates on campus, instead of addressing the claims, IIE Varsity College launched disciplinary proceedings against her, claiming she had disrupted a class and slandered students. Mooloo also claimed the university had discriminated against her based on mental health issues she had documented in confidence in her application.

She appealed against the decision to bar her from studies last month. On 29 September, chairperson of the disciplinary appeals committee Darren Stevens found that there was insufficient evidence on the records to support the charges and found her guilty. According to the record of the proceedings, the evidence showed that the student obstructed or disrupted teaching.

Stevens ruled that there was no evidence to support the allegation that Mooloo had brought the IIE into disrepute or that she had made an incorrect statement about it. There was also insufficient evidence to show that the student had discriminated against others based on race, language or other factors. The guilty verdict was set aside, but Mooloo was given a written warning for disrupting class.