The Department of Basic Education says it is cognisant of the scourge of bullying in South African schools, and in a bid to try to minimise incidents, the department will enforce anti-bullying laws as part of the schools’ Code of Conduct.
This follows recent reports on the rise of bullying in schools, including Queens High School in Johannesburg, which has been making headlines following the tragic death of a 15-year-old learner.
The family of Brian Ndlovu says he allegedly died hours after being forced to consume a poisonous substance at school. They allege he was a victim of bullying.
Spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education, Elijah Mhlanga says all members of society should work together to deal with the issue of bullying.
“When, as a child, you feel bullied, you need to report it so that you can get the assistance that you need for it to stop. The deaths are troubling because there are families who are grieving the loss of their children through incidents of bullying, which could have been prevented. By the time a child decided to take their own life, it would have been a long time of suffering silently or reporting, but someone not taking action.”
VIDEO: Pupil dies after alleged bullying at school
