A devastating incident has shaken the community following a 17-year-old girls’ suicide attempt spurred on by relentless school bullies. The teenagers mother took to social media to share a poignant video of her daughters trauma, highlighting the profound impact of peer victimisation on her child.
The controversial footage showed the victim in a highly medicated state following the overdose. This incident has sparked outrage and concern among parents and teachers, prompting the Department of Education to intervene and reaffirm its commitment to address bullying.
A parent, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed concern about the rise of bullying incidents at schools. “The statistics are alarming, and it seems that bullying is on the rise in our schools, affecting not just the victims but the entire student body. No child should have to face harassment or feel unsafe in what should be a nurturing environment.”
In a separate incident, a 17-year-old girl from the eThekwakini region attempted to take her own life following an assault by multiple peers which went viral on social media. According to Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) spokesperson, Prem Balram, the girl was found unconscious at home, with her mother reporting that she had been repeatedly assaulted by several students.
Balram added that the mother explained that upon returning home from work, she found her daughter on the kitchen floor with slit wrists and several bottles of medication nearby. Paramedics rushed the child to a local hospital.
The Department of Education spokesperson, Muzi Mahlambi, stressed that bullying is taken seriously by officials. He said: “We always say that the issue of bullying is a battle that education alone cannot fight and win; it needs all of us. Bullying is a problem in some of our schools, and it leads to incidents like the one this child is facing today. We implore everyone to get involved in fighting this scourge.”
Details pertaining to the victims and their families have been omitted due to the sensitive nature of the incident and ongoing legal action.
