The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi, convened an urgent meeting on Thursday, 20 March 2025 with the management of Eletsa Secondary School, the School Governing Body (SGB), and the circuit management following the circulation of a viral video depicting a bullying incident at the school.
It was established during the meeting that the incident occurred in October 2024 but was not reported to the school management until the video surfaced on social media. The footage shows a boy learner who was doing Grade 9 at the time being bullied by four other boys within the school premises. Upon further engagement, it was revealed that the learners involved were known to be friends and had previously caused disruptions at the school.
The MEC also met with the victim and his mother, who confirmed that the learner did not report the incident at the time, as he claimed the perpetrators had apologized, and he had forgiven them. However, the video’s emergence has reopened wounds, leaving the victim visibly distressed. To ensure his safety and well-being, he underwent psychosocial support.
Disciplinary action is now being taken against the three learners involved in the bullying, with a disciplinary meeting scheduled for next week, where their parents will be present. The fourth perpetrator is currently in police custody for an unrelated matter.
In response to the incident, MEC Motsumi emphasized the importance of maintaining a safe school environment and committed to strengthening anti-bullying interventions.
“Bullying in our schools will not be tolerated under any circumstances. It is deeply concerning that this matter was not reported immediately, as it could have been addressed much earlier. We are taking decisive action to ensure such incidents do not reoccur by reinforcing discipline management in schools and empowering learners and teachers with the necessary skills to identify and handle bullying effectively. We have decided with the school management and SGB together with the mother of the bullied learner to move him to another school during the first quarter recess to safeguard his mental safety, says Motsumi”
As part of the resolution, school safety coordinators will be dispatched to work closely with Eletsa Secondary and two neighbouring schools to address bullying and implement preventative measures.
Additionally, teachers at the school will undergo training in discipline management to foster a safer and more conducive learning environment.
For more information please contact
Mphata Molokwane Departmental Spokesperson
082 979 3638
Or
Bayanda Zenzile
Media Liaison Officer
082 307 6852
Or Elias Malindi
Acting Head of Communications
072 892 8399
