The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga calls on all School Governing Bodies (SGBs), in collaboration with the Provincial Department of Education, to adopt and implement the existing Western Cape Anti-Bullying Policy to the increasing cases of bullying in schools. This is after a bullying incident that happened recently at Hoerskool Bergvlam in Mbombela.
Recently, Mpumalanga schools have reported several undesirable bullying incidents that needs urgent action from SGBs, parents, learners, the department, schools themselves, civil society and communities.
Apart from the Hoerskool Bergvlam bullying incident that took place last week where a learner sustained minor injuries; there is a disturbing video clip shared on social media where a 15-year-old girl was assaulted several times at Elukhanyisweni Secondary School at Emalahleni whilst other learners watched. The assault involved another girl who only stopped assaulting her peer after another learner intervened. Since the incident other learners from the school have spoken out about being scared. They say the bullying incident started on social media as cyberbullying and then escalated.
The Hoerskool Bergvlam bullying incident is currently being attended to and disciplinary processes are underway.
In another incident, a senseless act of violence has claimed the life of a young student at Gedlembane Secondary School outside Mbombela. According to eyewitnesses, two female students engaged in a physical altercation outside the school premises after classes had dismissed on 26 July 2024. The fight, reportedly sparked by a personal dispute, quickly escalated into a brutal exchange of blows. Tragically, one of the girls sustained fatal injuries during the brawl and was pronounced dead at the scene.
As a solution, the DA would like to advise the Mpumalanga Department of Education and SGBs to adopt and implement a policy similar to the one used in the Western Cape Education Department’s (WCED). A policy called “Abuse no More”. This policy provides guidelines to schools on dealing with any form of abuse, including bullying. The WCED guidelines also provide advice on reporting incidents of abuse, how to support victims and how to deal with perpetrators.
In addition, as SGBs in South Africa have been given the mandate to create and adopt a code of conduct for learners, the DA is urging all the SGB bodies in Mpumalanga to ensure that the school’s Code of Conducts are effectively implemented, and that appropriate measures are taken to prevent and respond to bullying incidents. The SGB also has a duty to involve parents, learners, and the community in creating a safe school environment