A parent of one of the eight Milnerton High School learners suspended over an alleged bullying incident says his family has been living in fear since the story made headlines last week.
Speaking to TygerBurger on condition of anonymity, the father described the past days as “a nightmare” for his family, who have faced intense public scrutiny and online backlash following the incident.
“We can’t even go to the shops anymore,” he said. “People point fingers, they whisper, they stare. My child made a mistake, but we’re being treated like criminals. We are scared to leave our house.”
According to one of the learners’ mother, someone tried to run over her child last week.
Fearing for their safety
The parent said that while they understood the seriousness of the allegations and supported accountability, the level of hatred directed at their family had gone too far.
“We are fearing for our lives,” he said. “We’ve received messages and threats from people we don’t even know. The public don’t realise that there are families and children behind these names. We are not sleeping at night.”
He urged the public to stop spreading the video and to refrain from discriminating against the learners and their families while investigations are still underway.
“We are asking people to please stop judging before the truth is fully known. Let the school and the police do their jobs. These are still children — on all sides — and they need support and guidance, not hate.”
Learners face criminal charges
Six of the eight Milnerton High School learners who were charged with assault following an attack on a fellow learner have been released on R2 000 bail. The learners appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court last Thursday.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the two juveniles accused appeared in a different court. One of them was assessed and released on a warning, while the other teenager was released into the care of their parents.
Their bail conditions include:
- The accused must not contact the complainants and witnesses directly or indirectly.
- If they see the complainants, they must walk in a different direction.
- They are prohibited from entering the school yard or the school until the case is finalised.
- They are to submit their cellphones and pins.
- Refrain from intimidating the complainants and witnesses directly or indirectly.
- Not be involved in any criminal activity.
The NPA said five cellphones and pins were handed over in court. “One cellphone and pin is outstanding and must be submitted to the investigating officer within 24 hours.”
The accused will study at home, and the Western Cape Department of Education (WCED) has provided an alternative venue for them to write exams. The case has been postponed until 20 January 2026 to allow the accused to write exams.
The parent said they are not asking anyone to excuse what happened. “We just want the hate to stop. Everyone deserves a chance to make things right.”
