Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Vusi Shongwe will visit schools in the province following a bullying incident at the Elukhanyisweni High School in eMalahleni.
A video that went viral on social media shows a 15-year-old female learner being assaulted by a fellow learner while others watched.
It is not the first incident of bullying to be reported at the school.
Learners say they fear for their lives.
“This whole thing began from Facebook, on social media as cyberbullying. We are not safe, I’m not feeling safe. Whatever you comment, people take it as if you talk about them. We hope our principal will take this serious and try to solve it in a way that everyone will learn that this must come to an end.”
Limpopo
The 17-year-old pupil was allegedly bullying fellow pupils and teachers. The learner, who apparently failed the grade, was allegedly disruptive and demanded to be progressed to Grade 8.
The education authorities are yet to comment. Parents say they no longer want the pupil at the school.
Eastern Cape
In November last year, the suicide of a 16-year old Eastern Cape learner thrust the issue of bullying into the spotlight. Lathitha Nako, a Grade 10 learner at Bhisho High School, swallowed pesticide and died in hospital.
The circumstances around her death also sparked fierce debate and support for her on social media. Before her death, she spoke openly about the bullying she endured on social media platforms.
The video below from November last year highlights the issue of bullying:
