Social media users have expressed outrage after disturbing videos of a schoolboy being choked and a schoolgirl being assaulted by multiple students recently went viral this week, reports Cape Town Etc.
In the 30-second clip, one male student from a Cape Town school is seen grabbing another by his neck and dragging him to a nearby wall, where he proceeds to choke the student while repeatedly saying a vulgar statement to him.
“The school immediately took steps to address the issue. A disciplinary process was held. The two learners are receiving counselling support and behavioural interventions are planned,”said Bronagh.
While speculations of which Cape Town school the incident took place in are circulating across social media platforms, the department refrained from confirming the school’s name.
Meanwhile, another similar-natured video that went viral sparked further outrage among social media users after it was discovered that a WhatsApp channel with over 30 000 followers was created with the aim of sharing footage of vicious school fights across Cape Town, according to IOL.
Bronagh confirmed to the publication that the WCED has written to the Information Regulator in terms of a complaint and the non-adherence to POPIA and reported the matter to the social media platform.
The 40-second video shows a lone female student hunched over against a wall, trying to protect herself as several other schoolchildren seemingly take turns to kick, smack and hit her on her body and face.
Near the end of the video, one of the perpetrators, a young male, is seen kicking her in her face two times before he is pulled away before the lone student is able to get away.
Fellow students can be heard laughing, shouting and cheering as the student is attacked.
Stephen Price, principal of a Cape Town school linked to the above-mentioned incident, confirmed in a statement that a SAPS case has been opened and that he has met with Grassy Park police.
Stephen said that all students from his school identified in the video have been suspended and will attend disciplinary hearings on Saturday morning. He added that the school is following due process to ‘deal severely with the perpetrators’ according to regulations.
He also added that although one of the perpetrators is not a student at his school, he has been identified by SAPS, who will take the necessary action.
Social media users and members of the public who are aware of disturbing content such as this are urged to report the sender or group immediately and to delete the content.
“Reposting images or distributing them further makes one part of the indecent act,” warned Bronagh. “Again, parents are advised to have conversations with their children on positive values, showing kindness and empathy towards those in need, as well as, the dangers of social media.”
This follows a few days after News24 reported that a 14-year-old student from a school in Delft was dropped head-first into a toilet full of faeces before the four perpetrators smeared the faeces on his face and uniform.
The student subsequently left the school and the WCED confirmed that he has successfully been transferred to another school and was offered counselling support.
Police also confirmed that it is investigating a common assault case.
First published by Cape Town etc
Compiled by Tauhira Ajam
Also see: The healthier side of doom scrolling
