The Western Cape Education Department has confirmed growing concerns about bullying in schools, with 23 reported incidents since January.
The latest involves the arrest of a 17-year-old male learner at De Kuilen High School in Kuils River, accused of assaulting a 16-year-old female learner in an incident that allegedly included racial slurs and threats of violence.
The teen appeared in the Kuils River Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he faced a charge of assault and is currently in the care of his parents.
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg explained: "Kindly be advised that the mentioned case number is an assault case involving a 16-year-old female. We can confirm that a 17-year-old male was arrested and the assessment process was followed. The suspect was released in his parents’ custody and appeared in the Kuils River Magistrates’ on Thursday."
The incident which occurred in November 2024, was reported to both the WCED and the police.
A group of female learners claimed they were assaulted by a male learner who allegedly hurled racial remarks at them including that of assault.
Of the latest incidents, includes an attack at Sarepta Primary School where a learner’s ear was ripped off inside a school toilet and the lobe was reattached surgically.
Vanessa Le Roux of Parents for Equal Education said she lobbied and wrote to the Ministers of Police and Justice calling for the case to be reopened after it was closed relating to the De Kuilen incident.
“She must commit suicide by cutting her pulse is what the learner allegedly wrote,” said Le Roux.
“He said he wants to impregnate black girls so that he can have slaves for the rest of his life.
“He said the most horrible things and why must we wait for things to happen before anything is done.
“They closed the case without an investigation and this is how the case was opened again after I wrote to the Ministers of Police and Justice.
“This case should be used as an example where things are swept from under the carpet.
“These girls were not given support because the learner was found guilty of racism during the disciplinary hearings but he came back to school and continued his alleged racial slurs.
“We need to start criminally charging schools for negligence due to what is happening with our children and even principals should face arrest.
“The allegations were of such a serious nature, they were supposed to react immediately but there is no prevention.”
Bronagh Hammond of the WCED confirmed that the matter went through a disciplinary hearing in which the male learner was found guilty.
“It is not clear if the “new case” relates to the allegations from last year, or if there are new allegations not directly linked to the school as there have been no incidents reported lately.,” she explained.
“The school had been informed that the SAPS case regarding last year’s incident was closed.
“Last year, on hearing the allegations, the school immediately followed all the necessary protocols. They instituted disciplinary procedures, filled out the necessary forms which were sent to social workers and contacted all the parents of those involved in the case.
“The learners who had lodged complaints were invited to a special meeting with the Family Violence Child Protection unit of SAPS. This was attended by some of the learners and their parents.
“The parents were informed of the disciplinary case and that they could testify on a specific date. Some parents opted not to testify and withdrew their child’s statements.
“All witnesses were accompanied by parents.”
She further explained that the original two learners who made the complaint did not testify, nor did they attend the meeting with SAPS.
“The SGB has found the learner guilty of serious misconduct, and sanctions have been determined, which included suspension,” she said,
When asked about how many bullying incidents were reported, she explained: “ Quarter on last year, we had 32 cases of bullying (2024)
In January -February of 2025, we have received 23 incidents of alleged bullying.”
Hammond said they worked hard to change the narrative and give support to learners who were being bullied.
“School psychological services, school social work services and safe schools programme respond to all learner referrals that were affected by incidents of bullying in schools. District based support teams visit the schools and determine an intervention support programme for both the victim(s) and the alleged perpetrators,” she said.
“The WCED liaises within Safe Schools to supplement the services from department-employed psychologists and social workers by working with the Department of Health, Department of Social Development, and NGOs (such as CASE in Hanover Park/Manenberg).”
She added that one of the most prevalent forms of bullying is social media bullying, otherwise known as cyber-bullying – whereby hundreds (if not thousands) of people can share or like a post that can be harmful to you or another person.
Earlier this week, during a press conference with the media, the South African Human Rights Commission said they were part of interventions involving racism and bullying.
Cape Argus