There is a deadly social ill in South Africa we are not paying enough attention to: bullying. It makes an appearance every now and again only to disappear, but in the past weeks it has reared its ugly head again.
If pupils are not attacking teachers and behaving like little thugs, a police officer kills himself because he was berated by his seniors. As if that is not enough, a young man’s body was found hanging in the bush after he was allegedly bullied beyond tolerance by his teacher.
Last Sunday, we were confronted with news of a gang of school children in Lotus Gardens Secondary School in Pretoria terrorising the entire school. In the shocking expose by the Sunday Times, we read of abnormal dynamics where teachers were afraid of a group of learners who turned the school into a “den of crime”.
It was reported this weekend that a ringleader of the violence, a 19-year-old grade 11 pupil, was taken from the school by their parents just before they could face a disciplinary process. These pupils, among other accusations, are said to have robbed their fellow schoolmates, disrespected teachers, taken drugs and gambled.
This group terrorised teachers and pupils alike.
There is a culture of poor appreciation of people’s right to dignity and bodily integrity that comes in these cases, but also a discipline problem. The bullying that we see in the classrooms, unfortunately, often seeps into other areas of life such as the workplace.
What is being done to sensitise learners about the dangers of bullying? Why do adults who are supposed to be professionals berate pupils instead of helping them? How often do bullies face the consequences of their actions? At a general societal level, what needs to be done to ensure the dignity of others is not trampled upon?
However, in the case of Joseph Maimela, a grade 12 pupil from Kgabo Secondary School, Ga-Mokgobong near Polokwane, bullying led to more than just humiliation, he killed himself. The young man left a letter detailing that he was led to taking his own life after being bullied for his academic shortfalls. He was apparently ridiculed for not attending extra lessons which required payment. Why would grown-up teachers bully a child because of their poverty?
He laid the blame on three teachers who are yet to be suspended though an investigation is under way. His body was found hanging in a field last week.
In Johannesburg, a young policeman shot himself at work after allegedly being abused by his seniors. Rivar Swartz, 23, killed himself inside the Sophiatown police station on Thursday. He apparently used his service pistol.
What steps are being taken to offer the families solace and justice?
These stories show that there is a need to develop a strong anti-bullying culture as a matter of urgency. Bullying is often a manifestation of a need for power, where the bully seeks to assert dominance over their victim. Sometimes, however, it speaks to a lack of tolerance of others and their differences.
Last year, in Khehlekile Primary School, a grade 6 learner, Sibusiso Mbatha, hanged himself in the bathroom of his home after he could not cope with bullying from a teacher. He alleged that he was discriminated against by the teacher over his sexuality. He was told to leave his “gayism” outside the school premises after fighting with another learner at the school.
This kind of discrimination has no place in South Africa. It is a habit that should not be tolerated, but rather uprooted.
Regarding problematic children in schools, we should have a referral mechanism dealing with behavioural issues. Depending on the degree of violence, perpetrators should be sent to “stout” (rehabilitation) schools. This will create a safer space at schools where troublesome children are removed, but will also help misbehaving kids receive focused attention at these schools.
The public service and administration department should hold civil servants accountable for driving children to suicide through toxic workplace behaviour.
We appreciate that policing bullying is complex. But that is not the reason nothing should be done about it.
Ultimately, heads should roll. That a potentially promising young man killed himself after being bullied by teachers, and another by officers of the law, beggars belief. The cycle of abuse needs to be broken through concrete steps to discipline the bullies.
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