The Glenvista High School has hauled Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena over the coals for allegedly manhandling one of its learners a week ago.
In a video that went viral on social media, a grown-up man, alleged to be the Sundowns head coach, can be seen roughing up and grabbing a grade 11 pupil by his throat and threatening to assault him.
The incident happened on Wednesday last week.
On Monday, the parents of the school children descended on the school premises demanding answers on what action the school intends to take against the perpetrator.
This put the school and the principal, Dr Thabile Morgan, under pressure to act, and Glenvista has since taken up the matter with the department of education in Gauteng.
Contacted for a comment, Steve Mabona, spokesperson for the department, said: “The department is aware of the incident at Glenvista High School where it is alleged that a Mamelodi Sundowns coach manhandled a grade 11 boy learner outside the school premises on Wednesday, 11 October 2023.
“Indeed, an official from the school wrote a letter of complaint to the said football team.
“Accordingly, our psychosocial support team was dispatched to offer necessary support to the affected learner.”
The details of the incident are contained in the letter that the school sent to Sundowns’ offices.
The school wrote: “This letter serves as a formal letter of complaint against Mr Rulani Mokwena, the manager of Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club.
“On Wednesday, the 11th October 2023 at around 3pm, it is alleged that Mr Rulani Mokwena drove past Glenvista High School.
“At the time, a group of learners were standing outside the school premises waiting to be picked up by their parents and scholar transport services.
“It has since come to the school management [attention] that an incident occurred on this fateful day between our learners and Mr Rulani Mokwena. As per learner’s reports, a learner amongst a group shouted that ‘Sundowns lost their match last week’.
“It was at that point wherein Mr Rulani Mokwena, who was passing, reversed his car, got out of the vehicle, fixed his pants and approached a learner with intent to assault.”
The letter reads further: “He then grabbed the young man violently by his school uniform and asked: ‘Who said that’.
“Our pupil, fearing that he may be assaulted, pointed at a group of learners. However, Mr Rulani Mokwena was not interested in listening and he was furious.
“Mr Mokwena then said: ‘You don’t know what I have in my car, I will whip you’. As our pupil was walking away, he was then approached by Mr Mokwena who then instructed him to apologise.
“The incident continued, as Mr Rulani Mokwena, who was now driving towards our pupil, further shouted: ‘I will slap you’.
“The events narrated above have not only embarrassed our pupil, he is now being bullied on social media due to the actions of Mr Rulani Mokwena.
“Our school’s image is now the subject of discussion on social media, as this incident has been trending since last Friday, 13th October 2023. Your swift response in attending to this matter will be highly appreciated.”
It remains to be seen whether Sundowns will respond to the matter or if it will be treated as a personal matter between the coach, the school, and the parents involved.
Sundowns management had not commented at the time of publishing the story, as the club left for Mpumalanga on Tuesday for their Black Label Knockout competition fixture against TS Galaxy on Wednesday evening.
