Violent videos show how school bullying is getting out of control

BULLYING is getting out of hand at the province’s schools, with several incidents over the past few days showing violent incidents on playgrounds.

In one video that went viral, a Grade 8 pupil at Zandvliet Secondary School in Macassar was beaten in front of a large group of students by a fellow Grade 8 pupil.

A 47-second video clip taken by a spectator, who could be heard laughing and encouraging the violence, shows the pupil repeatedly punched and kicked while the perpetrator continued to hurl abuse at her.

The perpetrator took hold of the victim’s hair and threw her to the ground while continuing her attacks. The more than 20 pupils at the scene could be heard laughing and encouraging the attack, with one pupil moving closer and smoking a cigarette.

Mother of the pupil, Penelope Jantjies, filed a complaint at the Macassar police station the next day.

“In the beginning of January, a group of 10 girls bullied my daughter and her cousin. I went to their parents’ houses and they told me that they were not always with their kids so why must I complain about my daughter (to them).”

In the most recent incident, Jantjies said the perpetrator’s parents were yet to address the incident with her.

“The deputy principal came to my house on Wednesday, and that’s all. I never spoke to them again. He said he was sorry about what happened but what happens after school, it doesn’t involve the school,” Jantjies said.

Today, her daughter will be writing her first exam.

“She wants to go back to school. She had counselling on Friday with my pastor and his wife, so they motivated her to go to school. There’s nothing that she did wrong. The best that she did was not to fight back, not to swear. They can talk about her, she just has to lift up her head and move forward. She’s excited to write her exam. She’s fine but sometimes she’s scared but I said no, go, go face the world. There’s nothing that you did wrong.”

Jantjies said her daughter was not bruised but her lower back pained and she was unable to walk properly.

Western Cape Education Department (WCED) spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the department was horrified by the scenes in the video.

“The actions of all the learners involved are to be condemned. The fact that so many learners stood by and supported, even cheered on this abuse, is disturbing. These learners should be ashamed of themselves and their actions,” she said.

The department sent officials to the school to conduct an investigation and to give support. Hammond said the department was engaging with the school, and disciplinary action would be taken.

Meanwhile, after media reports of bullying and intimidation of pupils with disabilities at Cascade Primary School in Tafelsig, WCED spokesperson Millicent Merton said the department had reported this to the district office for further investigation.

Pupils had reportedly been urinated and spat on, and even threatened with sexual violence.

“The allegations are serious and the necessary action will be taken to ensure support for the learners involved,” Merton said.

On Wednesday, a Grade 11 learner at Forest Heights High School in Eerste River was stabbed by a Grade 8 learner.

Hammond said the school would institute disciplinary proceedings.

On the same day, a 14-year-old girl was stabbed by another pupil at Kleinvlei High School.

Police spokesperson Frederick van Wyk said police were investigating a case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. He said the case was reported by the pupil and parents at the Kleinvlei police station. Van Wyk said there had not been arrests and the investigation was ongoing.

Hammond said she was unaware of this incident.