A Grade 8 pupil at Belgravia High School was left with visible facial scars following an alleged bullying incident in her classroom, and her mother believes the school could have prevented the ordeal if action had been taken sooner.
Early Warning Signs Ignored
According to the learner’s mother, 53, the harassment began during the first school term and gradually intensified over the months. Her daughter reportedly completed several incident reports, with one even said to have been filled in by a teacher, yet no intervention followed.
The mother expressed her dismay at the lack of urgency from the school, explaining:
“This could’ve been prevented when my child first filled out her incident report.”
Confrontation in the Classroom
On 13 August, the situation escalated during a class session. The learner was allegedly mocked by another girl who tugged at her hair, fiddled with her jacket, and shifted her stationery around. When she attempted to brush the girl’s hand aside, she was scratched across her face with such force that the wound bled.
Her mother recalled the moment:
“The teacher and learners were in the class, and only when they saw blood did they separate them.”
The child’s injuries required medical treatment, including injections, antibiotics, and a formal J88 injury assessment.
A Mother’s Frustration at Pricipal’s Excuses
When the mother rushed to the school that day, she described finding her daughter in distress:
“When I came to the school, my child broke down. I just held her. Praise the Lord it wasn’t worse, but bullying has its effects mentally.”
The family was left disheartened when the school’s principal claimed to be unaware of any prior complaints lodged by the pupil.
The mother said she challenged the principal during their exchange:
“The principal tried to justify it by saying not everyone is raised the same or in the same household. I said no, whoa, stop, raising my hand, that’s not what I want to hear. There’s no justification for my child being bullied.”
Delayed Response From the School
Despite the gravity of the incident, the mother claimed the school only reached out nearly a month later, on 8 September, to arrange a formal meeting. By then, her daughter was left with scarring that she fears could serve as a lasting reminder of the ordeal.
WCED Confirms Investigation
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has since stepped in. Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond confirmed that the matter was investigated internally at the school, and a disciplinary hearing was scheduled.
She added that 69 cases of bullying had already been reported to the WCED’s Safe Schools Centre during the first two terms of the year.
