AT least 53 cases of bullying were recorded in Western Cape schools during this year’s first term as opposed to five last year after schools returned to normal.
Among those bullied was a Grade 8 pupil at Bridgetown High School in Athlone who was taunted and her hair extensions pulled off. The incident was recorded on video and posted on social media in February.
The victim’s mother, Nolupho Makwetu, said her daughter was humiliated for all on social media to see.
“I had to take my daughter to a doctor for anxiety; even now she is not okay. The following day, she acted brave and went to school. Kids were laughing at her. I do not want to lose my child and do not wish this for any kid,” she said.
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said it received an email from a member of the public about the bullying incident which went viral on Facebook.
A department spokesperson said the matter was referred to the district office for further support.
“A meeting was arranged with the chairperson of the community police forum (CPF), principal, school governing body, parents and District Safe Schools.”
“The school managed the case and disciplinary action was taken according to the school’s code of conduct. Psychological support was arranged for the learners that needed further support,” she said.
The spokesperson added that even though bullying incidents increased from five to 53, no pupils had been expelled.
The main areas affected by these incidents included the Metro South, North and Central Districts which are the areas such as Mitchells Plain, Parow and Mowbray, respectively.
The chairperson of the CPF in Athlone, Sharon Classen, said they too were concerned by bullying incidents, adding that in February alone she received five complaints.
Secretary of the National Association of School Governing Bodies, Matakanye Matakanya, said: “We condemn the continuing of bullying in our schools. We lose children in schools because of the bullying.
“We want to call upon SGBs to strengthen policies and children who continue bullying (others) must be evaluated and be suspended and punished if befitting.
“We will end bullying if SGBs stand strongly and condemn these things and make sure that the policies are implemented and monitored properly.
“But we also call upon parents to discipline their children. We need to look at Section 8 of the South African Schools Act. It directs all the SGBs on how to go about the policy in the schools.
“The policy must be amended to allow for special cases to be solved based on the needs of schools where the issue is more prevalent,” he said.
Hammond said bullying affected the performance of victims in schools and impacted the class.
“It can be very disruptive to the classroom environment and the individual performance of the learners involved. Both their emotional and physical well-being can be affected which could impact on their performance in school,” she said.
Founder of Aurorah Kuilsriver Community Action Group, Latifah Jacobs, said anti-bullying campaigns in schools needed to be consistent and parents needed to instil discipline.
She said the pandemic affected children who where exposed to domestic violence.
“ These children are frustrated and take their frustration to the nearest vulnerable children,” she said.
The Safe Schools’ Call Centre on the toll-free number at: 0800 45 46 47 for assistance.