AN EIGHTEEN-year-old high school pupil died after he was stabbed in the head on the school premises last week, allegedly as a consequence of bullying.
“Lungelo Maphumulo was stabbed on 6 June at Folweni High School,” said Captain Nqobile Gwala of the SAPS KZN media centre.
“He was taken to hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. An 18-year-old suspect was arrested and appeared in Nsimbini Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 9 June. The case was remanded to 17 June for bail application.”
Department of education spokesman, Muzi Mahlambi said the accused had allegedly bullied Maphumulo and taken his cellphone. During break time, Maphumulo ganged up on him with his friends and slapped him in the toilets.
The accused allegedly told his parents about the beating, but took a knife to school on Monday for protection.
When Maphumulo taunted the accused about the beating, he allegedly retaliated by stabbing him in the head.
Mahlambi said a tribunal would investigate the incident and the accused would be expelled from school.
Amanzimtoti Trauma Unit (ATU) centre manager, Loraine Odendaal said bullying is starting at younger ages and is more frequent and aggressive than before. “Unfortunately this cruel behaviour increases with age,” she said. “It’s also troubling children don’t always tell us that they are being bullied.”
It’s also troubling children don’t always tell us that they are being bullied
Repeated bullying causes severe emotional harm and can erode a child’s self-esteem and mental health. Whether bullying is verbal, physical or relational, the long-term effects are equally harmful.
In some situations the outcome can be tragic and the victim can take their own life or, in the Folweni incident, retaliate and attack the bully.
Bullying can be physical (hitting, punching or beating), verbal (teasing, name calling or threats), emotional (intimidation using gestures, social exclusion or threats), or sexual.
You get racist bullying, cyberbullying (online harassment, hateful messages, threats, impersonation or other digital abuse) or hazing (rituals and activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation to initiate someone into a group).
Signs to look for if you suspect your child is being bullied:
- Unexplained physical marks, cuts, bruises or scrapes;
- Unexplained loss of toys, school supplies, clothing, lunches or money;
- Damaged or missing clothes, toys, books or electronic items;
- Doesn’t want to go to school or partake in other activities with peers;
- Afraid of riding the school bus;
- Afraid to be left alone or clingy;
- Suddenly sullen, withdrawn or evasive;
- Marked change in behaviour or personality;
- Appears sad, moody, angry, anxious or depressed;
- Physical complaints such as headaches, stomach aches or frequent visits to the school nurse’s office;
- Difficulty sleeping, nightmares, cries self to sleep or bed wetting;
- Change in eating habits;
- Begins bullying siblings or younger children;
- Waits to get home to use the bathroom;
- Has fewer friends or doesn’t want to be with their regular group;
- Ravenous when they come home;
- Sudden and significant drop in grades;
- Self-blaming;
- Talks about feeling helpless or about suicide, or runs away.
Seek the help of a trained professional if the signs continue, intensify or your gut instinct tells you something is not right with your child.
Call the ATU on 031-903-7777 for more information or help.
