A bullying incident at a local high school has left a 15-year-old girl questioning her self-worth and her mother desperately seeking help.
While cyberbullying is a prominent concern for parents, schools remain a hub for traditional bullying, which is defined as aggressive behaviour occurring in-person.
Mounting incidents
The teenager alleges she was heading to her final class of the day when she was assaulted by a classmate.
The incident has left the victim deeply scarred, given that it was her second encounter with bullying.
A case of common assault was opened at the Somerset West Police Station and a 16-year-old suspect was arrested. Police spokesperson Sergeant Suzan Jantjies confirmed the suspect has been charged.
The teen further alleged she was consistently tormented as a result of her height and acne while enrolled at a local private high school. She admitted to retaliating in this instance, which ultimately led to her expulsion from the school.
The girl is not proud of her behaviour, with the outcome leading to a new start at her current school. But this soon soured, she said, as she claims to again falling victim to bullying.
“I can’t constantly be bullied… Maybe I am disgusting to people,”
Local bully victim
Bullying in the basin
Local psychologist Heloise Breytenbach-Uys, with 30 years’ experience in the field, believes bullying is a serious problem in the Helderberg.
“I still see a high volume of instances of social bullying,” she said. “This includes social exclusion, gossiping, spreading rumours and cyberbullying.”
Breytenbach-Uys said cyberbullying is prevalent because bullies have around-the-clock access to their victims, and posts on social media are difficult to remove completely. However, she admitted traditional bullying still occurs.
Therapy helps teenage bullying victims, as it empowers them to speak out, Breytenbach-Uys added. “It helps victims reframe the experience as a problem with the bully and not themselves, building a good and healthy sense of self.”
Support at hand
In a bid to seek help for her daughter, the teen’s mother took to social media sharing her fears that her child may employ drastic measures to bring an end to the bullying.
“I am sick and tired of all the bullying,” she said. “I can’t keep moving my child from one school to the next.”
Bronagh Hammond, spokesperson for the Western Cape Education Department, said transferring learners as a result of bullying is not a preferred option, which usually happens at parents’ request.
“The department prefers to engage with the learners and provide the necessary support,” she said. “It recognises that when a learner is bullied it can affect their academics, well-being and attendance.”
To address bullying at schools the department implemented the Abuse No More Protocol, which provides guidelines on how to deal with bullying.
When bullying occurs it must be reported to the school and documented, Hammond explained. “The school should then provide counsellors and peer support groups to affected learners. If the situation escalates, or requires specialised intervention, the school can access district learning-support teachers, psychologists, behavioural specialists or social workers equipped to handle more complex issues.”
Learners who are uncomfortable reporting incidents at school can also contact the Safe School Call Centre on 0800 454 647 or wced.safeschools@westerncape.gov.za.
The department encouraged school management to address the behaviour of perpetrators through appropriate sanctions and interventions via the school’s code of conduct.
If a victim shows signs of depression, they are urged to contact the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag), an NPO focused on providing mental health care countrywide. “The exclusion of bullying leads to anxiety, and that ushers in feelings of isolation,” explained Roshni Parbhoo-Seetha, project manager of education at Sadag.
Additional support
“That could result in depression because victims have low self-esteem, which could give way to suicidal thoughts. Sometimes victims are sitting in class and urgently need to speak to someone. They can WhatsApp us on our Maybelline #BraveTogether group.”
The chat line (087 163 2030) is available daily from 08:00 to 17:00. Parbhoo-Seetha implores victims who have suicidal thoughts to seek professional help on 0800 567 567.
