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A recent bullying incident involving a Grade 8 learner at Leiden High School in Delft has highlighted the grave nature of bullying in schools.
The learner was allegedly ambushed and assaulted by a group of seniors in a toilet cubicle, where he was covered in faeces and left to fend for himself.
Just days after news of the grade 8 boy broke, two more videos at different schools in the Cape Metro were being shared virally amongst social media users.
In the one video a boy can be seen being choked by a fellow learner until he loses consciousness and falls to the ground.
In the second video, a girl can be seen standing against a wall while more than five learners are kicking her in her face and hitting her.
These disturbing incidents has brought the serious issue of bullying into focus once again, drawing attention to both physical and digital violence that students can face in school environments and the effects thereof.
The mom of the 13-year-old told Weekend Argus that she will not stop to fight for justice for her child, who has now become so drawn back.
“Before this he was a child who loved playing outside, he laughed and spoke loud, now his just in his room and doesn't want to even go outside.
“As a mother I am constantly worried about what's going on in his mind, because we know how serious bullying is. I also won’t allow him to go down a dark path of depression or even suicide. I want him to know that we are going to fight against this.”
According to the South African Society of Psychiatrists, almost one in 10 teenage deaths in South Africa every year are the result of suicide, while up 20% of high school learners have tried to take their own lives.
Dr Sebolelo Seape, Chairperson of the Psychiatry Management Group (PsychMG) and psychiatrist explained: “A Youth Risk Behaviour Survey (YRBS) found that a quarter of grade 8-11 learners across all South Africa’s provinces had felt so sad or hopeless that they couldn’t engage in their usual daily activities for two weeks or more.
“More than one in six had either thought about suicide, made plans to commit suicide, or attempted it at least once in the past six months.
“This suggests a large proportion of teenagers are suffering from mental and emotional health problems. The youth are the future of our country and we need to act to prevent the devastating consequences of them losing their hope for the future.”
In response to the incident, Siyabulela Monakali, spokesperson for Ilitha Labantu, strongly condemned the act which he referred to as abuse.
"The violent act of forcing a child into a toilet and smearing him with human waste is not only a despicable act of bullying but a gross violation of his dignity and human rights," Monakali said.
Monakali criticized the school’s response, stating that instead of offering immediate care, the learner was left standing outside in soiled clothing until help arrived.
"This inhumane treatment reflects a shocking lack of compassion and responsibility.”
Monakali stressed that the combination of physical and digital violence has caused severe psychological harm to the victim.
He called for the school to take responsibility for the incident and for urgent action to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Dr. Alicia Porter, a child psychiatrist and board member of the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP), spoke about the broader psychological effects of bullying, particularly in a digital age.
She explained that bullying, especially when compounded by social media exposure, can have both immediate and long-lasting consequences.
"Bullying affects children both in the short and long term," Porter said, noting that it leads to feelings of humiliation, depression, anxiety, and, in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts.
She also pointed out the additional harm caused when images and videos of the bullying are shared online, amplifying the emotional toll on the victim.
Porter also addressed the long-term impact bullying can have.
"The trauma may continue to affect them as they grow older—especially if the images and videos from the bullying are shared online.
"Unfortunately, incidents like these can leave lasting scars," Porter explained, highlighting how the psychological effects may manifest as difficulties in trust, anxiety, and relationship challenges in later life.
The prevalence of bullying in South Africa, particularly in schools, is a significant concern.
Research shows that approximately 40% of children in South Africa experience some form of bullying, and the rise of cyberbullying has exacerbated the problem.
The use of social media platforms to harass and bully students beyond school hours has made it even more difficult for victims to escape their torment.
In some cases, the bullying can take on racial or socio-economic dimensions, adding further complexity to the issue. Schools have started implementing anti-bullying programs, but more needs to be done to ensure consistent enforcement of policies and to address the root causes of bullying behaviour.
Kavya Swaminathan, Interventions Supervisor at the TEARS Foundation, explained why the bully might be doing what he or she is doing: “Understanding what motivates learners to mistreat a peer in this way is critical to addressing the problem.
“Factors such as peer pressure, group dynamics, and a drive for social acceptance can embolden learners to engage in harmful actions when they are not held accountable.
“Some perpetrators may struggle with personal difficulties—whether at home or in other areas of their lives—that manifest as aggression or cruelty towards classmates.
“In the current digital age, social media amplifies the reach and impact of such acts, as learners can quickly share degrading material for attention or approval, heightening the victim’s sense of violation.”
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said district officials visited the school to make inquiries and provide support in the case of the Leiden learner.
“The WCED was made aware of the extremely disturbing allegations,” Hammond said, adding that the School Governing Body (SGB) has initiated an investigation into the incident.
“The alleged perpetrators were absent from school today but will face disciplinary action,” she said.
She said the victim’s mother has been contacted, and psychological support has been arranged for the learner, who will also be assisted with transferring to another school for his safety and well-being.
Hammond emphasized the seriousness of the incident, calling it "extremely disappointing that so many learners were allegedly involved." She reiterated that “no learner should be subjected to such abuse.”
Furthermore, Hammond noted that the WCED had yet to confirm rumours about a "viral" video or pictures of the incident circulating online, expressing hope that such claims would not materialize.
She also stressed the department’s commitment to monitoring the process and offering the necessary support to the victim.
“The WCED has ongoing anti-bullying initiatives, including educational campaigns and a Safe Schools hotline, where students and parents can seek support or report bullying.”
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has also committed to prioritising school safety, implementing policies to protect learners, educators, and stakeholders.
Elijah Mhlanga, DBE spokesperson, emphasized that violence, drug use, and harassment have no place in schools, as they hinder learning and violate learners' rights.
“The DBE has strengthened infrastructure, built resilience programs, and partnered with SAPS to establish School Safety Committees.
“A National School Safety Framework has been created to help manage risks. The department also focuses on preventing drug use in schools, declaring them drug- and weapon-free zones.”
Mhlanga stressed the importance of parental and community involvement in ensuring children’s safety.
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za