Cape Town school’s bullying incident sparks outrage

As this occurs, the perpetrating student is pulled away from the victim by another student who then starts choking him.

From all the movement and noise in the video, it is suggested that multiple students were present when the incident occurred.

Western Cape Education Department (WCED) spokesperson Bronagh Hammond confirmed that the incident took place before school hours on 23 January 2025, and that the department is addressing the video.

“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.