Eight Milnerton High School rugby players, some representing at provincial and national levels, face an uncertain sporting future as local sporting bodies remain silent on potential repercussions following their arrest on assault charges. 

The pupils, who cannot be named due to a court order, appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court facing charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm after a violent bullying incident that was captured on video and went viral.

While the Western Cape Education Department has suspended the learners pending disciplinary proceedings, sporting bodies, including the South African Rugby Union (SARU), have yet to clarify what sanctions the players might face in their sporting careers.

Cape Town Sport Council Secretary, Janine du Toit, said: “At the present moment, this matter is sub judice. Any further enquiries should be directed to the Department of Education and/or Western Cape Education Department. The Cape Town Sport Council offers no comment and shall wait for all internal and legal processes to follow its natural course.”

Enquiries to the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) had not been answered by deadline. 

SARU would not be drawn when probed on what punitive measures could be implemented against the implicated pupils. 

In a statement earlier this week, SARU President Mark Alexander expressed deep concern and unequivocal condemnation following the viral circulation of the video in which a Milnerton High School pupil is assaulted by his peers.

“It is unfortunate and unfair that a schoolyard incident has been linked to our sport, but we take this opportunity to underline rugby’s values. Our sport teaches discipline, humility, and empathy – values that are foundational to a child’s development and to the spirit of our sport.

“We would have welcomed the opportunity to work with the school regarding this unacceptable behaviour, but the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Education Department… Individuals who engage in bullying are not welcome in our sport, which prides itself on respect and integrity, regardless of its physical nature. I urge all young men and women aspiring to build a future in rugby to heed this warning: bullying is totally unacceptable,” said Alexander.

Referencing the corporal punishment ban at schools and educational institutions, Associate Professor Francois Cleophas of the Division of Sport Science at Stellenbosch University said: “They have contravened the South African Schools Act, where each learner must be treated with respect. If a school teacher had to dish out punishment like that, that teacher would have been brought before the court. 

“What happened here is a symptom of what is wrong in our society. School (sport) and rugby at schools, especially, come out of a British tradition of muscular Christianity, where the philosophy is that men must be able to take the knocks of life. In old English schools, bullying wasn’t frowned upon. I want to lay the argument that until today that many schools say they curtail it (bullying), but silently they don’t really condemn it,” said Prof Cleophas.

He urged a culture and mindshift change in society. 

“Unless we change the patriarchal thinking that men must be strong and muscular, we won’t get bullying curtailed,” said Professor Cleophas. 

This week, six of the accused appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court while the remaining two appeared as juveniles in a separate courtroom. 

Six of the accused were released on R2,000 bail with conditions that they must not contact the complainants and witnesses directly or indirectly.

Concerning the two juveniles, National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed that one minor was assessed and released on warning, while the other was released into the care of his parents pending a further assessment on Friday (today). 

The case has been postponed to January 20, 2026, to allow the accused to write exams.

Meanwhile, an anti-gender-based violence organisation, 1000 Women Trust, said many SA schools are ill-prepared to deal with bullying. 

Co-founder and pioneer in the field of anti-bullying, Tina Thiart, said: “The horrifying incident at Milnerton High is not an isolated bullying event, as 57% of SA learners experience bullying in their lifetime. Yet, our research shows that many schools are simply not prepared to deal with this scourge.

“During the recent incident at Milnerton High, reports said the footage indicates some learners standing by and recording the assault, while others were encouraging the attackers. At 1000 Women Trust, we educate bystanders on their role to support the victim and become positive upstanders.” 

chevon.booysen@inl.co.za

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