South African authorities have suspended eight pupils linked to a shocking case of bullying at Milnerton High School in Cape Town, following the emergence of a disturbing video that has sparked national outrage.
The footage, which surfaced on social media last week, shows several boys repeatedly attacking a fellow student with a hockey stick, hose pipe, and belt, while others laugh and cheer. Reports indicate that the victim was one of nine pupils allegedly assaulted during the incident on 16 October.
The 16-year-old boy’s mother told News24 that her son, who had recently completed chemotherapy after battling cancer, was left traumatised by the assault. “My child had just beaten cancer only for something like this to happen to him,” she said.
Police have confirmed that an assault case has been opened, while the Western Cape education department said the suspended pupils will face disciplinary action. “We are treating the matter with the seriousness it warrants,” the department said in a statement.
Amnesty International South Africa described the video as “deeply disturbing,” urging authorities to take swift disciplinary and legal action. “No child should ever endure such brutality in a space where pupils should be safe and protected from harm,” the organization wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Joy Maimela, chairperson of parliament’s education committee, condemned the assault, saying it “borders on a criminal offence that demands urgent and decisive action.”
Both the education ministry and provincial authorities have appealed to the public not to share the video, warning that doing so further traumatises the victim and infringes on the rights of those involved.
On Wednesday, angry parents staged a protest outside Milnerton High, demanding justice and stricter anti-bullying measures as the school remains open amid the ongoing investigation.
