Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement

The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is deeply alarmed by the recent surge in bullying cases in South African schools.

This issue was brought into sharp focus by a viral video from early October 2024, showing two students at Thabela High School in KwaZulu-Natal physically assaulting another learner. Other tragic events include the suicide of a grade 12 learner Kgabo Secondary School in Ga-Mokgokong (Limpopo), allegedly due to bullying by teachers, as well as the hospitalisation of a student from Bishops Diocesan College in Cape Town following alleged bullying. These incidents serve as painful reminders of the devastating impact bullying can have on students, whether the perpetrators are peers or educators.

It is particularly concerning that these cases are surfacing during National Bullying Awareness Month, a time intended to promote solutions, yet the number and severity of incidents seem to be rising. The 2015 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study revealed that 64% of South African grade 9 learners, mostly between the ages of 14 and 16, experienced bullying on a monthly basis—whether social, verbal, physical, or cyber. Disturbingly, a similar rate of 65% was found in 2019, showing little progress in addressing this pressing issue.

Bullying in schools, whether by teachers or learners, have severe consequences for both discipline and mental health. It creates an environment of fear and disrespect. Bullying disrupts the learning environment, leading to disobedience, aggression, and a lack of respect for authority among students. When teachers are involved, it undermines the trust that should exist between educators and learners, making it harder to maintain discipline.

Eradicating bullying requires a united effort between educators, learners, and parents.

The UDM calls on the Department of Basic Education to enforce more strict anti-bullying policies to prevent this kind of abuse from escalating and offering counselling support systems for victims.

Schools must create a safer, more supportive atmosphere for all learners. When schools actively address bullying, they contribute to the overall mental well-being and academic success of their learners.