-
School classroom with tables and chairs.
Police fired stun grenades outside Milnerton High School in Cape Town to disperse a group of demonstrators. This after a discussion between the school principal and protesters.
Members of various civic organisations and political parties are demanding that learners who were allegedly involved in a violent bullying incident at the school last week be expelled.
A video doing rounds on social media shows the assault of a learner by other boys with objects such as a hockey stick.
Th school’s principal, Gert van Tonder, came out briefly to receive a memorandum, but returned after the protesters said it would be emailed to him.
Repeated bullying incidents
It’s alleged that at least 10 boys have been bullied, and family members say this is not the first time.
The sister of another boy who was allegedly assaulted says suspension alone is not enough.
She says her brother is traumatised, scared and still has visible bruises.
“This is not only bullying. This is assault as well. This deserves jail time as well. It’s a case where they need to be held accountable. We can’t let them sweep this under the rug because this is assault, not bullying.”
The incident has garnered widespread condemnation and outrage.
Various civic and political parties are demanding transparency, as provincial convenor of the EFF Youth Command, Simamkele Mtheli, explains, “Those boys in the majority are over 18. So, those boys were adults who knew very well what they were doing and the consequences of what they were doing. Not only did they hurt those boys physically, but they also psychologically killed the future of this country. The face of the boy is now going viral in each and every corner of the country, everyone knew that boy was the one who was bullied in school.”
South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) Spokesperson, Buntu Gwija, says, “When I spoke to the father, he confirmed that they were told that they cannot tell what is going on at the school, especially the media. The media must not know until the Western Cape Department of Education deals with the matter. So, it was kind of caged, and it was known what was happening, and it’s ironic that then that happens they play the radio, and it happens in the locker room at the school so that nobody can hear when the screams are taking place.”
Parliament says it wants answers from the Western Cape Department of Education.
Meanwhile, the provincial education department says the learners are due to face a disciplinary hearing following their suspension.
Western Cape EFF Youth Command en route to Milnerton High School to demonstrate and make a statement against bullying. pic.twitter.com/OCrPbXAQJl
— EFF_Western Cape (@EFFWesternCape_) October 22, 2025
