Bullying crisis leaves deep scars

In playgrounds, WhatsApp groups and school corridors across the country bullying is leaving devastating emotional scars on children.

- KAILIN DANIELS

Once dismissed as a “rite of passage”, bullying has become an entrenched crisis that schools, families and the government can no longer afford to ignore.An estimated 40% of learners in South Africa experience some form of bullying, with emotional and physical abuse alarmingly common. Even more concerning, one in three teenagers is affected by cyberbullying, where harassment spills beyond school hours and follows victims relentlessly through social media platforms.

DIGITAL ABUSE LEAVES NO ESCAPE

“We're not just dealing with bruises anymore,” said Dr Alicia Porter, a board member of the South African Society of Psychiatrists (Sasop). “Children are anxious, depressed and, in some cases, suicidal. When bullying is compounded by digital shame the psychological damage can be lifelong.”

Bullying is no longer limited to fists and name calling. Voice notes, manipulated photos, group chat exclusions and public shaming on platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram and TikTok create humiliation that leaves children feeling exposed, vulnerable and helpless. For many victims there is no escape.

LOCAL INCIDENTS HIGHLIGHT A NATIONAL PROBLEM

The seriousness of bullying has been brought into sharp focus locally, following a bullying incident at Milnerton High School last year.

In October last year, a violent bullying incident at Milnerton High School sparked widespread outrage when video footage of the assault went viral on social media.

The footage showed a group of older learners physically assaulting a Grade 10 learner, with reports indicating that up to 10 younger learners were targeted during the attack, which some described as an alleged initiation ritual involving objects such as hockey sticks, belts and wooden sticks.