The Democratic Alliance (DA) has strongly condemned the recent assault on a Grade 10 learner at Milnerton High School, describing it as an appalling act that highlights the urgent need for a systemic response to bullying and violent initiation practices in schools.
The incident, which occurred on 16 October 2025, allegedly involved a group of older pupils assaulting a younger learner in what has been described as an initiation ritual. The School Governing Body has since suspended the learners implicated in the attack, and disciplinary hearings are underway.
The DA has welcomed the swift action taken by the school and expressed confidence that the matter will be handled decisively.
“We deeply sympathise with the pupil and his family during this tormenting period,” the party said in a statement. “The young pupil’s dignity was stripped away for the sake of entertainment - an utterly awful act, made worse by the fact that it took place at an institution of learning.”
DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Social Development, Wendy Kaizer-Philander, said the incident points to a deeper societal issue that cannot be addressed by reacting to viral incidents alone.
“Bullying stems from deep-seated social problems such as normalised violence and a lack of adequate psychosocial support,” she said. “We must address these roots to prevent a new generation from inheriting the same patterns of harm.”
The DA commended the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) for its ongoing anti-bullying and learner-safety efforts through the Safe Schools Programme, which provides conflict management, peer mediation, behaviour management training, and trauma support.
Between April 2024 and March 2025, the programme logged 1,045 cases of abuse — underscoring the continued need for vigilance and community partnership.
The party also noted the vital role of the WCED’s Psychosocial Support Programmes, which include mindfulness training, mental health awareness, and gender-based violence education delivered by social workers and psychologists.
These services are crucial in creating nurturing school environments, particularly in high-crime communities where trauma-related consultations have risen by 37%.
DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Education, Peter Johnson, added: “Schools must be places of dignity, not fear. We condemn any form of bullying, and we call for intensified efforts to make every school a zone of safety, respect, and growth.”
The DA has proposed the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee on Child Protection in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament to strengthen oversight and ensure that schools remain safe havens for learning.
Meanwhile, the WCED continues to offer counselling to the affected learner and his family. The DA has urged any pupils experiencing bullying to report it to teachers, principals, or district offices - or directly to the WCED. Parents can also contact the Safer Schools call centre at 0800 45 46 47 to report incidents of bullying or abuse.
The incident, which occurred on 16 October 2025, allegedly involved a group of older pupils assaulting a younger learner in what has been described as an initiation ritual. The School Governing Body has since suspended the learners implicated in the attack, and disciplinary hearings are underway.
The DA has welcomed the swift action taken by the school and expressed confidence that the matter will be handled decisively.
“We deeply sympathise with the pupil and his family during this tormenting period,” the party said in a statement. “The young pupil’s dignity was stripped away for the sake of entertainment - an utterly awful act, made worse by the fact that it took place at an institution of learning.”
DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Social Development, Wendy Kaizer-Philander, said the incident points to a deeper societal issue that cannot be addressed by reacting to viral incidents alone.
“Bullying stems from deep-seated social problems such as normalised violence and a lack of adequate psychosocial support,” she said. “We must address these roots to prevent a new generation from inheriting the same patterns of harm.”
The DA commended the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) for its ongoing anti-bullying and learner-safety efforts through the Safe Schools Programme, which provides conflict management, peer mediation, behaviour management training, and trauma support.
Between April 2024 and March 2025, the programme logged 1,045 cases of abuse — underscoring the continued need for vigilance and community partnership.
The party also noted the vital role of the WCED’s Psychosocial Support Programmes, which include mindfulness training, mental health awareness, and gender-based violence education delivered by social workers and psychologists.
These services are crucial in creating nurturing school environments, particularly in high-crime communities where trauma-related consultations have risen by 37%.
DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Education, Peter Johnson, added: “Schools must be places of dignity, not fear. We condemn any form of bullying, and we call for intensified efforts to make every school a zone of safety, respect, and growth.”
The DA has proposed the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee on Child Protection in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament to strengthen oversight and ensure that schools remain safe havens for learning.
Meanwhile, the WCED continues to offer counselling to the affected learner and his family. The DA has urged any pupils experiencing bullying to report it to teachers, principals, or district offices - or directly to the WCED. Parents can also contact the Safer Schools call centre at 0800 45 46 47 to report incidents of bullying or abuse.
