Controversy Surrounds Siphesihle Ngxatu After Allegations About Learner at Thembalethu Primary School in George

Social media erupted this week after Mandisi Tshingana publicly alleged that Siphesihle Ngxatu, who claimed to be the mother of a learner at Thembalethu Primary School in George, is not the child’s biological parent.

According to reports, Ngxatu blocked Tshingana on Facebook following the claims. Despite the controversy, South Africans had previously raised around R22,000 in support of Ngxatu and the child, who became the focus of public attention after a viral video showed a learner being mocked for not having pie and a drink during lunch.

The video, shared online by Bae Keerah, captured the classroom scene where most students had snacks on their desks, while one learner did not. The clip quickly went viral and sparked widespread reactions and discussions about poverty, dignity, and treatment of learners in schools.

Ngxatu responded to the viral attention on social media, expressing her distress over the situation.

“Oh! bethuna I hate poverty with everything in me. I have been getting calls and messages about my child trending. I saw the video once and I broke down. This has to be the hardest thing that I’ve ever gone through, my child being subjected to bullying because of pie,” she wrote.
“There’s a meeting today at school, and I will update everyone later.”

The allegations against Ngxatu have added another layer to the ongoing public debate, which has included calls for accountability and community support for the learner involved.