Gonubie Primary denies link to viral video appearing to show woman assaulted - IOL

An East London primary school has moved to correct claims linking it to a disturbing viral GBV video, saying the man featured in the footage is not an employee and has no employment connection to the school.

Gonubie Primary School has strongly denied any connection to a disturbing viral video appearing to show a woman being assaulted, saying the man featured in the footage is not employed by the school.

The school, based in the Eastern Cape, said its name had been incorrectly linked to the video, which has been circulating widely on social media.

“Gonubie Primary School is aware of a video currently circulating on social media relating to an alleged incident of gender-based violence involving a member of our local community,” the school said.

“We wish to make it clear that this incident has no connection whatsoever with Gonubie Primary School.”

The school also rejected suggestions that the man seen in the footage works at the school.

“Furthermore, the gentleman shown in the video is not an employee of Gonubie Primary School and is not employed by our school in any capacity,” it said.

The school said it had contacted the person responsible for creating and sharing the video to clarify the matter and ask that the alleged incorrect association with the school be corrected.

It said it understood the public concern surrounding alleged GBV but stressed that accurate information must be shared.

“We respect the seriousness of gender-based violence and fully understand the public concern surrounding such incidents,” the school said.

“However, it is important that accurate information is shared and that individuals and organisations who have no involvement are not incorrectly associated with an incident.”

The clarification comes as the video continues to attract attention online.

The footage appears to show a man striking a woman during an altercation in a public space.

The woman can be heard screaming “Help” while recording the confrontation, and at one point the man appears to place her in a chokehold.

The circumstances leading up to the confrontation are not clear from the footage alone, and the identities of those involved have not been independently established.

The video has nevertheless triggered widespread outrage, particularly amid SA’s ongoing GBV crisis.

Gonubie Primary said it would not comment further on the allegations or the individuals involved because the matter did not concern the school.

Activist Darren Campher said the reaction to the footage had raised another concern: the tendency of some people to defend alleged perpetrators even when footage appears to show violence.

“Despite what we can see in the video evidence of clear GBV in a public space, some people are saying things like, ‘Bring back the days where people’s private lives were private’,” Campher said.

“Sadly, this case isn’t unique. We’ve seen several instances where there were very clear-cut cases of GBV and people were still coming out to protect the assailant,” he said.

Campher also questioned whether government commitments to tackling GBV would translate into changes for women on the ground.

He referred to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent address on GBV and femicide, in which the President announced deadlines for government departments to develop measures to address the crisis.

“How terrifying is it for women to listen to the President speak about how, within 60 days, various departments must submit an enforcement package?” Campher said.

He questioned whether the situation would actually change within that period.

“Not that the situation will be different in 60 days; a plan will be submitted on how they plan to reduce substance-related incidents,” he said.