Nelspruit - A principal and teachers seized cellphones from all pupils at an Mpumalanga high school after two girls were caught using theirs to watch pornography.

The incident started during a Grade 8 class at Sitintile High School in KaNyamazane outside Nelspruit last Tuesday, said director for the Mpumalanga education department's Ehlanzeni region, Mfana Lushaba, on Monday.

He said the two girls started to giggle out loud, attracting the attention of other pupils who wanted to see what they were laughing at.

Lushaba said: "It is a disgrace for pornographic images to be at an educational institution. Our kids cannot learn while watching adult films at the same time."

He said it was found that about half the pupils who brought cellphones to school used them to view pornography.

As a result, cellphones were seized from all pupils at the school.

Sending a strong message

Lushaba said: "The principal realised that the two were not the only ones with adult images on their cellphones."

He said the department supported the school in seizing the cellphones and said it was against school policy for the pupils to bring their phones to school in the first place, as the cells disrupted their studies.

"Now, the only way for the pupils to get their phones back is for their parents to come and fetch them.

"In this way, we are sending a strong message against any form of lawlessness at the school. Kids are there to learn, not to watch X-rated movies," said Lushaba.

He said a meeting was held on Sunday afternoon to explain to parents why the phones had been seized.

According to one parent, Martha Shabangu, her daughter had been too embarrassed to tell her that her cellphone had been confiscated.

"I never even knew that my daughter's cell had been taken away from her. She was too embarrassed to tell me about the other girls who were caught.

"I only saw a note on the fridge telling me there was a parents' meeting," said Shabangu, on Monday.

She said she had never watched pornography herself and dreaded the thought of her own child watching "such wicked" material.

Had stunning pass rate

Lushaba said it had not yet been decided what disciplinary action should be taken against the two girls who were initially caught watching the pornography.

He said the department was extremely disappointed by the incident, as the school was one of the best-performing schools in the region. Last year, the school had a 99% pass rate.

"If we don't take control, the school might lose its glory," said Lushaba. 

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