Activist urges united front to tackle bullying

Education and gender activist, Dimakatso Khalo-Mudau, says the recent bullying incidents in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape underscore the urgent need for collective and sustained action.

Khalo-Mudau argues that while anti-bullying policies exist, they often fall short without proper enforcement and active community involvement. “Teachers are constrained by regulations, and parental participation is often minimal,” she said.

Her comments follow the court appearance of a learner from Thuto-Lesedi Secondary School in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, who is allegedly involved in a violent assault on Grade 8 pupil, Thapelo Motha.

The 16-year-old victim was attacked by four boys after he reportedly refused to hand over a bag of sweets he was selling at school.

The brutal incident left Motha with serious facial injuries, requiring surgery.

One of the accused learners appeared in the Vosloorus Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

He has been remanded in custody, and the matter has been postponed to 19 August.

In a separate incident in the Eastern Cape, the Department of Education has suspended five pupils accused of bullying an 18-year-old girl in Mdantsane.

The scholar transport provider has also been suspended following the incident.

Disciplinary proceedings for the learners are set to begin on Thursday.

Khalo-Mudau has urged schools to collaborate with community-based organisations such as Soul City Institute, Soul Buddyz, and Mamello Education Development to address bullying more effectively.

She says these organisations provide essential life-skills programmes that help learners understand the emotional and social impact of bullying.

The Gauteng Department of Education has confirmed that police are pursuing other suspects linked to the Thuto-Lesedi incident.

Department spokesperson, Steve Mabona, has called for calm, assuring the public that investigations are ongoing.

The school principal has been temporarily moved to the district office pending an internal investigation.

The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) has expressed concern over the increasing violence in schools.

SADTU spokesperson, Nomusa Cembi, noted that existing codes of conduct are not enough to protect vulnerable learners or foster a culture of respect and safety.

The incidents have sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many South Africans calling for harsher penalties and stronger preventive measures in schools.

@carribloom

Five boys suspended after video of them bullying goes #viral #southafrica #gqeberha #portelizabeth #fyp #johannesburg #capetown #eastlondon #crimenews #crimetok #saps #bullyingawareness

♬ original sound – Carri-Ann Bloom

💔 “They nearly killed my son over a schoolbag!” — Heartbroken mother seeks justice 💔

📍16-year-old Thapelo Motha is in ICU after being brutally attacked by a group of boys at Thuto Lesedi Secondary School in Vosloorus. His only “crime”? They wanted his schoolbag 😢. pic.twitter.com/RocLLlAy30

— ⛏️ Moemedi wa Diphiri ⛏️🇿🇦 (@DiphiriBen10) July 31, 2025

@storo.011

♬ original sound – S.T.O.R.O.🌟