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By Charmaine Ndlela
Authorities are investigating an alleged bullying incident at the elite St. Stithians College in Sandton, after a Grade 1 learner reportedly sustained potential permanent hearing loss when a classmate forced pencil shavings into her ears.
According to reports, a boy allegedly threatened to push a pencil into the girl’s eye if she told anyone. The alleged assault was captured on the school’s security cameras.
Speaking to Inside Education, the school said that the investigation into the matter “has not yet been concluded” and it could not provide a date of when the alleged incident took place.
St. Stithians spokesperson Celeste Gilardi said the school acted immediately after learning of the incident.
“Upon being aware of the incident, we immediately activated our safeguarding and disciplinary procedures in line with our Student Code of Conduct, POPIA, and legal obligations,” she said.
Gilardi added that the school is “addressing the matter with urgency and integrity” and remains committed to protecting the well-being of every learner. The school confirmed it is meeting with the victim’s family to finalise the matter.
The victim’s mother has reportedly requested a transfer letter, stating that her daughter has been subjected to bullying throughout the ten months she attended the school.
Anti-bullying organisations say this incident reflects a widespread “crisis” in South African schools.
Around 57% of learners have been bullied at least once, according to local NGOs. Data from Safer Schools shows that more than 3.2 million learners experience bullying every year, but 67% of them never report it, believing they will not be helped.
The Human Sciences Research Council recorded 548 incidents of bullying in early 2025, some with tragic outcomes as pupils took their own lives due to ongoing abuse.
In March, a Grade 7 learner at Vulindlela Primary School in Harrismith, Free State, died by suicide after leaving a note describing the emotional distress caused by bullying.
In another recent case, a viral video from Milnerton High School in Cape Town showed a Grade 10 learner being beaten with belts and hockey sticks in a locker room as others watched and cheered. Six of the eight learners involved were arrested and charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. They were released on R2 000 bail each, while two minors were released into the custody of their guardians.
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) this month said it was alarmed by a series of violent incidents across the province between 20 and 23 October, including a stabbing at Boksburg High School where a Grade 9 learner was reportedly attacked by a group of boys who jumped the school fence.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane condemned the attacks, reiterating the department’s zero-tolerance stance on school violence.
“We are deeply saddened by this violent act and wish the injured learner a full recovery. We urge communities to play an active role in preventing such incidents and ensuring our schools remain safe spaces for teaching and learning,” said Chiloane.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) said it continues to strengthen its School Safety Programme, guided by the National School Safety Framework and a protocol signed with the South African Police Service. These frameworks require all schools to have safety committees, learner codes of conduct, and direct links to local police stations.
“The DBE’s Anti-Bullying Campaign and psychosocial support initiatives reinforce this commitment, promoting a culture of respect, empathy, and accountability across all schools,” the department said.
Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube has added bullying to the agenda of the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) to ensure the issue is addressed nationally. She has also directed the DBE to assess how anti-bullying protocols are being implemented across provinces and to evaluate their effectiveness.
INSIDE EDUCATION