The disturbing video showing the assault of a 16-year-old learner at Milnerton High School has reignited urgent conversations about safety in South African schools.
Eight pupils have since appeared in court, facing assault charges following the attack, but the incident has also sparked broader calls for reform in how schools handle bullying.
Education specialist Dr Nazli Domingo-Sallie believes the situation reflects a deeper systemic issue. She stresses that schools have a legal and moral responsibility to ensure a safe environment for all learners, as per eNCA.
‘You have the other children to protect,’ she explained, noting that under the South African Schools Act, teachers act in loco parentis, as stand-in parents responsible for student welfare.
‘When you drop your child at school, your child has to feel safe; the environment has to be safe. Let’s just fast forward: your child has just been bullied there, the principal has not provided a safe space, and the implications are huge,’ She added.
Dr Domingo-Sallie emphasised that schools need to adopt a holistic approach that includes parents, learners, and management working together to address both prevention and accountability.
Advocacy organisation Equal Education also weighed in, condemning the assault but urging against expulsion for the accused pupils, as they believe that punitive action alone won’t solve the problem.
‘What we are asking for is that, yes, we agree they should be disciplined, even if they do community service work and apologise to the families of their victims. But to expel them is not an answer, because it will ruin their future and even make things worse,’ a spokesperson said.
The group’s stance highlights the tension between accountability and rehabilitation, a balance many education experts say is vital to tackling the root causes of school violence.
The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) has also expressed concern, urging the school to take swift and meaningful action. Sibongile Kwatsha of SADTU highlighted their campaign promoting safety and respect in schools.
‘We have a campaign called I am a School Fan. In that campaign, we are calling for schools to be safe havens for all stakeholders. Any learners who enter the school must feel protected, the same as for teachers,’ Kwatsha said.
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Picture: Nqabayomzi Kwankwa / Facebook
