CAPE TOWN: Parents and education organisations are calling for principals to be held accountable when procedures governing bullying incidents are not followed.
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) confirmed in the first two terms of the year, 55 cases of learner-on-learner bullying were reported to Safe Schools.
Last month, Weekend Argus reported that the department received 96 complaints of bullying for the year.
Parents for Equal Education SA founder, Vanessa le Roux told Weekend Argus she has been inundated with complaints by frustrated parents of children who are being bullied at school, claiming incident reports are not compiled.
In March, 14-year-old Danisha Windvogel took her own life after she was reportedly bullied.
The teen attended Franschhoek High School and her friend who is also in Grade 8 was apparently bullied by the same group and tried to kill herself.
Danisha’s mother told Weekend Argus last month that she hoped there would be a form of justice in the bullying cases after the teen’s friend had opened a case with police.
Le Roux is also calling for children who film the attacks to also face disciplinary action, including those who encourage cyberbullying.
This week, the mother of a 14-year-old Grade 8 pupil at Zandvliet High School in Macassar expressed her concerns about her daughter’s alleged bully, a 16-year-old pupil who is undergoing disciplinary hearings after the attack was filmed on video.
The video shows the victim being dragged by her hair, kicked and smacked around while other pupils filmed the incident without helping the child.
A 14-year-old Grade 8 pupil from Blackheath High School, who is a victim of cyberbullying, had apparently received threats that she would be harmed.
Le Roux said she is now calling for principals to also face a form of disciplinary action when they do not follow procedures.
She said the case of Danisha had traumatised the community and their organisation, and that bullying had reached boiling point in the province: “Just last week, I sat on my knees with a child in Macassar who was assaulted. She was dragged by her hair and kicked in her face.
“This incident took place outside of the school grounds while about 50 learners were watching and some making videos and not one of them intervened.
“Then there are the Franschhoek girls. Danisha was only 14. It was a few days before her 15th birthday and she was a victim of bullying. It got so severe that she was even being bullied online as well.
“I never want to look parents in (the) face that (have been) through that type of hurt again.
“I do not want to tiptoe around these bullies any more, because what they are doing is criminal.
“There is a process at schools. They must fill in an incident report. In one of the cases we found there was no incident report.
“I want to start seeing convictions. I do not just want to see convictions from the bully side, I want to see principals also being held accountable.”
The mother of the Macassar pupil who was assaulted said her daughter had to receive medical attention: “A few days after the attack she complained of lower back pain and I had to take her to the doctor.
“What is upsetting to me is that I understand this is not the first time that this girl has done this to another pupil.”
Police spokesperson Ndakhe Gawala confirmed they were investigating a case of common assault.
The mother of the Blackheath High School victim said she was left frustrated: “I went as far to visit the social worker in our area and there has been no feedback.
“I have been to the school. I have spoken to the principal (to explain) that she is afraid to attend school because she has been receiving threats that they will be hurting her and I agree with Vanessa.
“When I ask if there is any feedback, there is no communication from the principal.”
The teen told Weekend Argus the nightmare began after a post was made on a fake Facebook account involving claims about a boy.
Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said in each of the cases Le Roux had mentioned, procedures and investigations were being followed.
“(In the Franschhoek case) we do hold the view that the school and the WCED have taken active steps through its ongoing programmes to minimise the risk of bullying at the school and provide support.
“The principal did engage the parents of Danisha and has had a separate engagement with Mr Windvogel and the family pastor at school.
“With the Blackheath HS, the principal called both learners in to address the matter.
“The alleged online bully was addressed and warned.”
With Zandvliet High School, the WCED was horrified by the scenes in the video that had circulated. The school governing body held a disciplinary hearing.
“The alleged perpetrator pleaded guilty and acknowledged her fault.
“The disciplinary committee is meeting again to review the progress made.
“It is important that the school management is aware of the allegations so that they can address it as soon as possible.
“Disciplinary measures against learners who distribute, film or participate in events that put the school into disrepute or constitute abuse, assault or bullying should be addressed.”
Weekend Argus approached the Progressive Principals Association (PPA) for comment but there was no response.