Eight pupils have been suspended from Milnerton High School following a distressing incident of alleged bullying that has captured national attention. A video circulating widely on social media depicts several boys repeatedly assaulting a fellow student with various items, including a hockey stick, hose pipe, and belt.
This shocking event highlights the ongoing issue of school bullying in South Africa, where such violent acts are regrettably common and often shared online. The latest incident is considered one of the most disturbing to surface in recent memory.
Authorities and rights organizations have strongly condemned the assault, with police confirming an investigation is underway. Amnesty International South Africa described the video as “deeply disturbing” and called for swift disciplinary measures, emphasizing that no child should face such brutality in a safe learning environment.
South Africa’s Department of Education has been in close contact with the Western Cape Education Department, which oversees the school. Both departments have confirmed that the suspended students will face disciplinary proceedings. They have also issued an appeal to the public not to share the video or the identities of those involved, citing the potential for further trauma to the victim and the violation of all students’ dignity.
According to a report by News24, the mother of the assaulted student revealed that her son is a cancer survivor who had recently completed chemotherapy. She expressed her heartbreak, stating, “My child had just beaten cancer [only] for something like this to happen to him.”