LIMPOPO – A 15-year-old girl from Tshirenzheni in the Thulamela Municipality has reportedly committed suicide following a bullying incident yesterday, which has gone viral on social media.
The Department of Social Development’s Spokesperson, Witness Tiva, said the department has dispatched a team of social workers to Mbilwi Secondary School and to the family of the girl.
“Social workers are attending to the case after details of the incident went viral on social media. The video depicts a learner attacking her fellow learner, in full view of other learners. The MEC for Social Development, Nkakareng Rakgoale, has condemned the incident saying that bullying is one of the social ills that are experienced in many communities and it needs to be confronted head-on,” he explained.
Rakgoale said the team of social workers will provide psychosocial support to ensure that the affected parties cope with their loss.
“We are very disappointed to learn about this bullying incident that ended in tragedy. We want to see these young boys and girls support each other at school, because they are there to learn,” Tiva said.
Rakgoale urged community members to not share violent video material on social media and further expose minors to violence. “It is advisable to rather report such incidents to the school, to the police or to social workers for speedy intervention,” she said.
Education MEC, Polly Boshielo noted with concern the increasing number of reported bullying incidents in Limpopo schools.
“This morning the department was alerted to a shocking video recording of a female Gr 10 learner being slapped around at Mbilwi Secondary School in the Vhembe East education district. The incident took place yesterday, 12 April and in the video other learners can be heard cheering the perpetrator, who is also a Gr 10 female learner,” a statement by the MEC’s Media Liaison Officer, Sam Makondo, reads.
Makhondo said the department is awaiting a formal report on the cause from the relevant authorities.
“The department has also noted another recording of a physical altercation incident involving Gr 12 female learners from Nthuba High School which made rounds on social media last week Friday. Details of this incident have been requested from the school principal and due disciplinary processes will be undertaken immediately,” he added.
Boshielo said it is “disturbing to witness this level of violent behaviour among young people”.
She strongly condemned such conduct which she says has turned schools into horrendous havens of those who have no regard for their peers.
“Bullying is wrong and will never be tolerated in our schools. We send our condolences to the family and friends of the deceased learner and pledge our commitment towards ensuring that all those involved in bullying incidents are made to face the consequences of their actions. It is important that we also capacitate our schools to strengthen enforcement of their code of conduct, especially on such incidents. Education is a societal matter, therefore putting the responsibility on all of us to ensure a safe learning and teaching environment,” said Boshielo.
Makhondo indicated that the Limpopo Education Department appointed learner support agents who are based in the 10 education districts across the province, to offer emotional support to vulnerable learners.
“This is done in conjunction with programmes offered by the School Safety, Learner Psychological Services and Life Skills units. Processes are underway to intensify their interventions in high burden areas, based on reports received from circuit offices. District psychosocial teams have been dispatched to the schools to attend to the affected learners,” Makhondo concluded.
Review has chosen not to publish the video in honour of the request by the Department of Social Development.
