‘When fights break out contact the authorities, do not record and distribute’
The MEC for Social Development says recording and distributing videos of violent behavior violates Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Act. She issued this warning after yet another incident of school violence was shared on social media.
LIMPOPO – “When fights break out contact the authorities. Do not record and distribute videos of violent behavior as it might have unintended consequences.”
The MEC for Social Development, Nkakareng Rakgoale Rakgoale says sharing such videos violates Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Act, which warns against the identification of children under the age of 18 years, who are either accused of crimes or are witnesses to the crimes.Â
The CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 51 OF 1977 states that any person who contravenes the provisions of the act shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years  if the person whose identity has been revealed is under the age of 18 years.Â
She issued this warning after yet another incident of school violence was shared on social media. The latest incident was recorded in Botlokwa and depicts two Motlalaohle Secondary School learners in school uniform fighting while fellow learners cheer them on.
This video was shared days after a bullying incident at Mbilwi Secondary School, involving two Gr 10 learners, went viral and indirectly led to the one learner taking an overdose of medicine and passing away.Â
She added that incidents of bullying will not come to an end ‘until parents, civil society and government join hands and teach children and society at large about the dangers and consequences of this social ill.’
Rakgoale called on children who experience physical, verbal, social and cyber bullying to immediately report such to their parents and to their teachers.
Social workers have been dispatched to the Botlokwa area to provide pyscho-social support to those involved. “These incidents can leave those involved traumatised and the department does not want to see a repeat of what transpired in Sibasa,” concluded Rakgoale.
A 15-year-old, Mbilwi Secondary School learner involved in the assault of a fellow learner has, since the incident, been taken into custody and will be dealt with in accordance with the Child Justice Act.
Social workers continue to provide psycho-social support to the family of the deceased and the affected Mbilwi Secondary School learners.
More about the Children’s Act 38 of 2005
The Children’s Act 38 of 2005 places emphasis on protecting children against abuse and neglect, this law also works to eradicate bullying in schools. It gives every South African child the right to bring a case of bullying to court. It’s important to note that the Act’s aim is not to punish a bully but to restore the balance thrown off when one child caused harm to another. So, the focus is on restorative justice through specific programmes and processes. Bullies will be held accountable for their actions, but the aim is to rehabilitate and not punish them.
