Two high school pupils’ excitement at a marriage proposal on the school grounds captured on video has been cut short.
Mduduzi Tlou, 18, proposed to his 16-year-old girlfriend (whose name
is withheld because she is underage) at Tholulwazi Secondary School in
Tsakane, Ekurhuleni, last week, with the video going viral on social
media.
But a few hours after the two got “engaged” in front of cheering
fellow pupils, the school confiscated a R2000 ring Tlou had bought for
his girlfriend and suspended both pupils.
The pupils yesterday appeared before a school disciplinary hearing.
Tlou told Sowetan that they had been dating for eight months. He said he wanted to marry her because she had “changed” his life.
“I love her because when I met her, I was an alcoholic and she had changed all of that.
The Grade 11 pupil said marriage, however, was not on the cards for another two years.
“I paid R2000 for the ring. I bought it from Sterns. I had saved money for it,” Tlou said.
He said he did not know the proposal was against school policy. “I
was surprised on September 18 just after lunch when they called us into
the principal’s office, confiscated the ring and asked us to bring our
parents the next day.”
Tlou said he was worried that he was missing out on learning while on
suspension. He has already missed four class tests. He wants to finish
his studies, find a job and marry his sweetheart.
The girlfriend said she, too, was worried that she was missing out on
her schooling. “When they took my ring at school, I wanted to cry. He
asked me to marry him and make him the happiest man on earth. We are not
going to get married now. We will get married after we both finish
school,” she said.
The couple’s parents said they were elated by the proposal, however, they were worried by the pupils’ suspension.
Tlou’s grandfather Jacob Xaba said: “Why is this relationship being
turned into a crime? He must marry her. I will even give him my savings
for lobola.”
The girl’s mother, Nomsa, said: “I am happy with the step these
children are taking. Mduduzi is a good boy. I can’t think of a better
son-in-law.”
Gauteng education spokesman Steve Mabona said the pupils acted indecently by kissing and touching in front of their schoolmates.
“Surely such behaviour will not be tolerated in our schooling
environment. A school is an institution of learning. The disciplinary
process by the SGB . will pave a way forward.”
The pupils would be given a chance to write the tests missed, he said.
Source: sowetanlive.co.za