A Milnerton High School parent, identified only as Petitioner X for safety reasons, has lodged a formal complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) against protest groups including the EFF Youth, ANC Youth, and others who demonstrated at the school recently.
The protests followed a viral video showing bullying among learners. Petitioner X says the protestors disregarded the constitutional rights of children, disrupting exams and intimidating learners, which caused trauma within the school community.
TygerBurger recently reported on the incident that sparked the protests after a viral video showed eight senior learners bullying a younger boy. Following swift action by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), the accused appeared in Cape Town Magistrates’ Court on assault charges on 23 October and were released on bail.
Protests went too far
According to an email sent to TygerBurger, while the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) confirmed that the school followed all lawful procedures and that the accused students were facing legal action, Petitioner X argues the protests went too far.
“The protestors, dressed in their organisational branding for maximum media exposure, intimidated learners and staff for two days,” she said. The disruption resulted in postponed Grade 10 entrance exams and created unsafe conditions as learners struggled to enter and exit the school grounds. Petitioner X says the protests “needlessly traumatised our community and interrupted the critical final months for our matrics, who have worked their entire school careers for this moment”.
Rampant cyberbullying and threats
The protests spilled over onto social media, where the situation worsened significantly, Petitioner X says. The complaint details how learners’ identities and those of their families were doxxed, with personal information and photos widely shared. This led to a surge of violent and racist threats, including calls for harm against the accused students. “One of the boys nearly died when someone tried to run him over near his home,” Petitioner X revealed.
Petitioner X described the online environment as reflecting a “bully culture” ingrained in society, where harassment and intimidation have become the norm. The complaint calls for prosecution of those responsible for hate speech, incitement of violence, and cyberbullying related to the incident.
Demands and call for restorative justice
While acknowledging the seriousness of the bullying and supporting legal consequences within a restorative justice framework, Petitioner X stresses the need to protect the rights and dignity of all children involved. The complaint requests that the SAHRC:
- Investigate violations of children’s rights during the protests.
- Provide guidance on balancing the right to protest with the constitutional rights of learners.
- Recommend recourse for matrics whose exams were disrupted.
- Prosecute individuals and organisations guilty of hate speech, cyberbullying, and incitement of violence.
- Promote restorative justice approaches aligned with the Child Justice Act, focusing on rehabilitation, reintegration, and healing.
Petitioner X told the newspaper: “I am not defending bullies; I am defending human beings, young men of our community.”
She emphasised the urgent need for leadership that addresses violence and bullying in schools thoughtfully and legally, while supporting both victims and offenders in a way that promotes long-term community healing and safety.
