The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has directed the leadership of Milnerton High School to urgently eliminate a harmful school culture and bullying environment after the violent assault of a 16-year-old learner.
During a site visit that included officials from the Western Cape Department of Education, parents, and the Human Rights Commission, the committee emphasized that the school must adopt a clear anti-bullying policy and implement a turnaround strategy to address the broader school culture impact.
Committee Chairperson Joy Maimela said the team first visited the victim’s family in Parklands to show support, where parents revealed their son continues to face threats for speaking up about the attack. When questioned, the principal could not produce a written anti-bullying policy, prompting concerns about the lack of a concrete plan to tackle bullying.
The committee welcomed news of a disciplinary hearing scheduled for October 25 and requested a follow-up report on the outcomes. The Human Rights Commission also confirmed it will independently investigate and share findings as part of the school bullying inquiry update.
Ms. Maimela announced that a second review meeting will be held away from the school grounds. She also urged leadership to investigate possible links between the school’s rugby team and ongoing bullying incidents. The committee stressed the urgency of building a respectful and inclusive school culture while rooting out all forms of intimidation.
For those looking to explore leadership training programs that build positive educational environments, check our partner site at travel.afrikeye.com.
This story was first reported by the Republic of South Africa: The Parliament. Read the full article here.
