They allegedly urinated in a long jump pit and forced grade 8 pupils to crawl through it during this year's orientation camp at the elite school.

Some of the boys developed a skin rash and had to receive medical treatment.

The school's governing body has, however, denied that any initiation practices took place - saying it's an isolated incident.

"Given the overwhelming success of these camps in the past, we encourage the Grade 8s to enthusiastically participate in the many fun and challenging activities that we have lined up for them," the SGB said in a statement.

The matric boys who have been implicated were immediately suspended pending the finalisation of an investigation that will culminate in a disciplinary hearing.

The school described the conduct of the implicated as a lapse in judgement - which was both unexpected and unacceptable.

Maritzburg College says it cannot pre-empt the sanctions or when a formal disciplinary hearing will be concluded.

"We are not only committed to fully investigating this incident, but to taking the necessary disciplinary steps.

"We are confident that those who were directly involved, as well as all other learners at our school, will learn an important life lesson from this inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour."

The SGB also confirmed that none of the school teachers had knowledge of the boys' conduct prior to the report by some of the junior boys.

Jacaranda News