A 14-year-old boy from Pretoria endures relentless bullying at school, highlighting a national crisis where millions of learners suffer unreported abuse. The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has voiced alarm over widespread bullying in Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo provinces. Official data reveals over 500 cases reported in early 2025, with many more likely hidden due to fear and inadequate responses.
Sipho, a 14-year-old from Pretoria described as gentle, hopeful, and aspiring to be an accountant, faces daily dread at school due to persistent bullying. In one harrowing incident, a group of boys mocked his appearance and skin tone, calling him 'soft' and 'i-chocolate boy,' before pushing him against walls, throwing him to the ground, and assaulting him while peers laughed and recorded the attack on cellphones. Teachers were absent during the event, which left Sipho bruised and emotionally scarred, questioning his safety and worth.
His confidence has eroded, leading to isolation, anxiety, and quiet tears in the school bathroom. When Sipho confided in his parents, they contacted the school but received lukewarm responses from overwhelmed teachers. 'We are now in the process of looking for a new school for him and exploring counselling options,' his anonymous mother told Daily Maverick.
This personal ordeal reflects broader issues in South African schools, where bullying—defined as repeated aggressive behavior causing harm—manifests as physical attacks, verbal abuse, social exclusion, and cyberbullying. Annually, over 3.2 million learners experience it, but 67% go unreported; 160,000 skip school daily to avoid it, and one in 10 drops out. About 24% of schoolchildren face repeated peer abuse, with 16% encountering cyberbullying and 90% of cases involving learner-on-learner violence.
In 2025, more than 500 incidents were officially noted nationwide. The Portfolio Committee, during reviews of provincial education plans, criticized inconsistent reporting and weak anti-bullying policies in Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo. Eastern Cape documented 140 cases in the first quarter, affecting over 3,400 learners, though second-quarter figures showed none reported despite 3,200 involved. Mpumalanga logged 131 cases in the first half, including physical assaults, racist and homophobic bullying, extortion, and cyber incidents. Limpopo reported 11 cases this year versus 54 in 2024, lacking a coordinated strategy.
Committee chairperson Joy Maimela urged departments to enforce policies effectively: 'Departments must ensure that reporting channels, preventative measures and interventions are not just policy on paper, but translate into real change on the ground.' Legal protections span the Constitution, Children's Act, and National School Safety Framework, mandating safe environments, though implementation gaps persist. Experts like Riah Phiyega of the School Safety Advocacy Foundation call for teacher training, expanded counselling, and accountability to build respectful school cultures.
Sipho's mother emphasized urgency: 'Schools must stop looking the other way. No child should feel unsafe or invisible when they come to learn. We need teachers and principals to stand up, listen and take real action against bullying before more children get hurt.'