Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has condemned the violent assault of a learner at Milnerton High School, calling for swift accountability and renewed national action against bullying in schools.

Gwarube said she was “deeply concerned by the serious incident that occurred at Milnerton High School last week” and stressed that “violence and bullying have no place in our schools.”

The incident, which circulated widely on social media, sparked public outrage and raised concerns over learner safety and school discipline.

Criminal charges have since been laid, a move Gwarube said she supports.

“I welcome the fact that criminal charges have been laid in this matter. This sends an important message across our education sector and society at large: when conduct of this nature occurs, it warrants full accountability under the law,” she said.

The Minister confirmed that her office has been in contact with Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier regarding progress on the case.

“The school, supported by the Western Cape Education Department, has taken steps to investigate the matter and has instituted precautionary suspensions against the learners implicated pending completion of the required disciplinary processes,” she said.

Gwarube emphasised that both disciplinary and criminal investigations must “proceed swiftly, transparently and fairly, ensuring that those responsible are held to account.”

She added that learner safety and well-being remain their top priorities.

Beyond the Milnerton High incident, Gwarube used the opportunity to announce stronger national measures to curb school-based violence. She said bullying will now be elevated to the highest level of policy discussion.

“I am taking the following steps to strengthen our national response to school-based violence and bullying: adding bullying in schools to the agenda of the Council of Education Ministers (CEM), and directing the National Department of Basic Education to assess how our anti-bullying protocols are being implemented across provinces,” she said.

The department will also evaluate the effectiveness of existing interventions to ensure they are preventing violence rather than responding only after harm has been done.

Gwarube called on parents, teachers, communities and learners to help rebuild safe and respectful school environments.

 “Let me emphasise this unequivocally: there is no place for violence, intimidation or bullying in our schools. Our education environments must embody respect, empathy and accountability,” she said.

She committed to ongoing monitoring of the Milnerton case and similar incidents countrywide, saying she would work closely with education authorities to “restore trust within the school community” and ensure that “every school is a safe, supportive, and nurturing space for learning.”

IOL News

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