The parent of a learner implicated in an alleged “revenge list” at a Cape Town primary school has moved to clarify the situation, noting that the child was not a threat and instead the victim of bullying.
SmileFM has seen a report by an educational psychologist with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), who investigated the matter. The report was shared by the parent.
This report, dated 17 March, describes the child’s response as being based on “limited coping strategies, rather than deliberate aggressive intent”.
“The ‘revenge list’ identified at school appears to reflect reactive anger associated with experiences of peer rejection and perceived victimization, rather than premeditated intent to harm. This response is best understood within the context of emotional dysregulation and limited coping strategies, rather than deliberate aggressive intent,” read an excerpt from the report.
The parent said this follows a history of “unaddressed” bullying directed at the learner.
In correspondence with SmileFM, the parent stressed that rumours on the circumstances of the incident, covered in previous reports by other media outlets, were unfounded. This, the parent said, was confirmed by the school’s principal in a newsletter shared on Wednesday.
“These were malicious rumors spread by a single “concerned” individual that have unfortunately created a ‘witch hunt’ in our community,” the parent said.
The parent further noted that the child is facing serious mental health challenges, describing the situation as “a profound medical crisis”, with a diagnosis of severe depression and suicidal ideation.
Previous reporting by SmileFM highlighted that counselling support had been offered at the school after concerns emerged earlier this month about an alleged list naming other learners as targets. The WCED confirmed at the time that an internal investigation was underway and that the learner was not attending school.
READ MORE: Cape Town learner allegedly names other learners on “hit list” – Smile 90.4FM
