Bullying inside South African schools in on the increase and it seems authorities seem powerless to stem the tide
Basic Education Department and United Nations Children’s Fund data from 2023 shows that around 3.2 million learners in South Africa experience bullying each year – roughly double the global average.
The problem is not new. A 2013 study of 12 000 Grade 9 pupils found that 36% were involved in bullying as victims, perpetrators or both. Eight percent identified as bullies, 19% as victims, and 9% as both – the last group suffering the most psychologically.
In the first few weeks of the 2025 academic year alone, more than 500 cases of bullying were reported across the country, with Limpopo recording the highest number.
In February this year, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said a record 548 cases had been reported in the first six weeks of schools opening.
Limpopo accounted for 305 of those cases.
In a written response to EFF MP Lorato Tito-Duba, Gwarube said the North West reported 78 cases, the Eastern Cape 68, KwaZulu-Natal 29, Mpumalanga 26, Gauteng 23, the Western Cape 11, the Northern Cape seven and the Free State one.
The issue gained national attention a few weeks ago after eight learners from Milnerton Hight School appeared in court on charges of assault in the latest incident following a disturbing video circulating on social media.
They used various objects, including a belt and a hockey stick to assault a 16-year-old learner. The assault happened in what appears to be a locker room on school premises.
As music blared intermittently in the background, some pupils appeared cheerful and unfazed while the camera panned across the room.
The pupils have since been suspended by the Department of Education and separately arrested by police.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1723982001626249
The pupils involved in the assault appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. The court set bail at R2 000 for each of the pupils. The conditions of their bail require the boys to avoid contacting the complainants and witnesses directly or indirectly and arrangements have been made for them to write their exams in a separate venue.
There were not the only incidents reported in that week.
- In Boksburg, a Grade 9 pupil was stabbed by a group of eight males who had jumped over the school fence.
- A video has surface of a group of female pupils assaulting another pupil at Oos-Rand Commerce and Entrepreneurship School in Reiger Park
- A male pupil is under investigation after an incident in which he is alleged to have physically assualted and abused a female pupil.
- A Boksburg mother has raised the alarm after fellow pupils at Freeway Park Primary reportedly punched her son in the private parts the mother claims this incident, is the latest in a long history of bullying that has left her child emotionally scarred and struggling at school.
Many stressed educators at state schools are quitting their jobs, taking early retirement or moving overseas due to growing violence at schools.
Mr Riedwaan Ahmed, president of the National Professional teachers’ Organisation (Naptosa), has called for drastic state action while others are calling on parents to intervene
