Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has raised concerns over how Milnerton High School has managed cases of bullying at the school.

This follows an alleged assault incident captured on video, which is currently before the Cape Town Magistrates Court.  

READ MORE: Milnerton High learners accused of assault granted bail

The Committee visited the school on Thursday to find out more on this incident and the school’s response. 

In an interview with SmileFM, Committee chairperson, Joy Maimela, said the visit aimed “to try and find out the progress that has been made by the school and the district department” following the viral video showing a Grade 10 learner being attacked by peers. 

In its engagements, the Committee found that Milnerton High’s anti-bullying measures were inadequate. 

 “Some of these concerns relate to if the school has a comprehensive anti-bullying policy, which in our view, it doesn’t have. What they have is just a normal code of conduct with just one paragraph that speaks to bullying,” Maimela said. 

She added that the National Department had given the Committee “the impression” that every school needed a comprehensive anti-bullying policy, which is something she believes Milnerton High School lacked. 

Maimela said the Committee believes that the absence of a detailed policy created “a grey area” in how these types of matters were handled by the school. She specifically noted that the Committee felt that the issuance of the precautionary suspension letters to the accused learners earlier this week was implemented too late.  

“We were informed [by parents during the visit at the school] that even after that assault, after the parent had reported, the learner was continuously threatened by the same perpetrators,” said Maimela.  

She added that gaps were also identified in reporting procedures and psychosocial support.

“There was no proper psychosocial support that was provided to both the learners and the families… about nine learners that are affected by the bullying.” 

Maimela said the Committee has urged the Education Department to assist the school in developing a comprehensive plan to tackle what it described as “a culture of violence”. She noted that multiple videos and accounts from current and former learners, which have now surfaced after the initial viral video, indicate repeated incidents.

She added that the management of Milnerton High is expected to present a preliminary plan by the end of November, with a full strategy to follow, on how it intends to deal with this and related matters. 

“They would have to give us a preliminary plan for when they reopen school, so we’re expecting it end of November but beyond that they would have to give us a comprehensive plan,” Maimela noted. 

Maimela also referenced another alleged bullying incident that occurred at the school a month ago, which she said “the same learner” reported.  

“He told us that the case was just dismissed but the principal confirmed that that that matter was there and he said that they did some disciplinary hearings so we’re awaiting those documents to see if indeed they did a disciplinary hearing and if they haven’t then there must be consequence management by the district or the province.”

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