GEORGE NEWS - It's business as usual for the group of kids who traumatised my child, but everywhere my child goes, fingers are pointed and she has to deal with it. 

These are the words of a very worried mother of a Grade 9 learner in Heatherlands High School who believes her daughter is being bullied physically and emotionally by a small group of classmates and one specific instigator. 

According to the mother, her daughter was physically assaulted last year in December with learners attacking her outside the school grounds; she was cyberbullied on Facebook in April with comments and a video on her hair and she was assaulted physically a day later on the school grounds by the learner, who posted the video on Facebook. 

A video of the last assault was widely shared by learners in different schools.

"Everywhere she goes, she is reminded of what happened. We were promised counselling for her, but in the meantime, she has to deal with it all. Nothing will happen to those who bullied her. Another scandal is bound to happen."

Bronagh Hammond, director of communication for the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), said the school is aware of the alleged assault that took place on Friday 14 April on the school grounds and had requested all learners and their parents to attend a meeting on Monday 17 April to address the matter and the root causes of the incident.

"After providing the learners with the opportunity to respond, the school governing body (SGB) was mandated to investigate the incident and conduct of the learners and to determine a way forward in terms of disciplinary action. No learner has been suspended," said Hammond.

According to Hammond the police are investigating the matter. The concerned mother confirmed that both she and the mother of the other girl (the alleged instigator) laid criminal charges against the respective learners.

Concern

The mother, who wishes to remain anonymous for the sake of her daughter, is very concerned that her child might want to hurt herself. 

After a meeting with the head and a member of the SGB, the mother was informed that her daughter needs to return to school and that they would try their utmost to support her child. 

"It was very clear to me that they have no intention of expelling or suspending any of the students who did this to her," said the mother.

Hammond said the school has indicated that they are assessing the learners and providing support. 

"However, in cases where learners are manifesting symptoms of depression and may even be at risk of a possible suicide attempt, parents and/or learners may call the WCED Safe Schools call centre on 0800 45 46 47 for assistance in locating immediate support." She said the district has indicated that they will be providing additional support to the school.

Outside the classroom

According to the mother, the first incident happened last year in December, outside the school grounds when her daughter was physically assaulted by classmates who hit her.

The action attracted the attention of a woman, who intervened and gave the girl a lift home.

"She was assaulted because she was sitting on 'someone's chair', so they waited for the school to come out and started hitting her," said the mother. She laid a case with the police, but she was informed via SMS that it was closed.

Then, in April this year, classmates responded to a Facebook post by the child herself, in which she called herself "beautiful". One of the students wrote: "don't flatter yourself, you are not so beautiful as you think you are". Comments went back and forth, and a video of the girl, taken during school hours in a classroom, was posted on a learners' Facebook page with a caption: "Guys look at her hair, she is a mess and needs help." This video was shared with others.

The WCED said the school cannot prevent what is posted on social media pages by individuals, but will continue to educate learners about the possible implications and harm this can cause themselves and others.

Physical abuse

The very next day, on 14 April, a video was doing the rounds in Heatherlands High of a clear physical assault on the school grounds with the same instigator and the same victim. 

"I WhatsApped her around 10:00 asking her how are things at school, she replied everything was all right... I then knocked off at work around 13:00 and checked my WhatsApp to find her message, saying: 'Mom, this girl had assaulted me.' I was shocked," said the mother.

"I then received a message around the same time from a student who was in school at Imizamo Yethu SS, saying that she heard some of her classmates laughing and staring at a phone. She saw that it was my daughter on the video being assaulted. She then sent me the video and said the girl who posted the video on Facebook was asking for WhatsApp numbers to share the video with anyone who wants it."

George Herald is in possession of this video, which clearly shows how the girl is being threatened while filming continues. The instigator takes off her jersey and rolls up her sleeves, to the excitement of the crowd. She then pounces on the victim and lays in with her fists.

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