South Korean universities take a stand: reject applicants with bullying histories

WHEN someone says school bullying is simply harmless banter, we need to pause because in South Africa, the consequences are very far from harmless.

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

Take the recent case at Milnerton High School in Cape Town: a video of a Grade 10 learner being beaten with a hose-pipe, belt, and hockey stick which went viral.

The image of a peer pleading for the assault to stop shocked the country, triggered a criminal investigation, and sparked harsh condemnation from the Western Cape Education Department and the Department of Basic Education (DBE).

Why should we care? Because this isn't an isolated case, and the ripple effects last a lifetime.

Studies show this is happening far more often than many think. One research project found that 64% of Grade 9 learners in South Africa report being bullied monthly, according to the Human Sciences Research Council.

Another found that bullying in primary schools is significantly associated with poorer numeracy performance, showing clear links between bullying and academic disadvantage.

It's not just about bruises. A qualitative study in the Eastern Cape found victims suffer from anxiety, depressive symptoms, low self-esteem and even self-harm.

So when we minimise bullying as "kids being kids", we ignore the trauma, the wasted potential, and the culture of fear that can take root.