Eight teenagers linked to the shocking bullying incident at Milnerton High School are expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Thursday in connection with the assault of a Grade 10 learner that was captured on video and widely circulated on social media.
Police confirmed that the suspects, aged between 17 and 18, face serious criminal charges.
“Eight suspects between 17 and 18 will make a court appearance in the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court today, on a charge of assault to cause grievous bodily harm,” Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said.
This comes after disturbing footage emerged few days ago showing a 16-year-old boy being beaten, slapped and humiliated by a group of learners, allegedly from Milnerton High School’s rugby first team.
The incident reportedly took place on October 16, shortly after school hours, on or near school grounds.
The video sparked national outrage and led to strong criticism of the school’s handling of bullying complaints.
In response, the Western Cape Education Department confirmed that eight learners were suspended pending disciplinary hearings, and support services had been offered to those affected.
Tensions escalated yesterday when parents protested outside Milnerton High School, accusing the school of failing to protect learners and allegedly ignoring previous complaints of bullying.
Some parents claimed their children had also been targeted in violent incidents that were recorded and circulated among pupils, with little to no action taken by school authorities.
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