Eight pupils at Milnerton High School in Cape Town, South Africa, have been suspended after a shocking video surfaced showing a group of boys viciously assaulting a fellow student, sparking national outrage and calls for stronger anti-bullying measures. The footage, which went viral on social media last week, shows several boys beating a 16-year-old learner with a hockey stick, belt, and hosepipe while others laugh and cheer. The terrified victim is seen pleading for the assault to stop as the attack continues for more than two minutes.
Authorities said the assault, which took place on 16 October, involved nine pupils allegedly targeted in a violent initiation or bullying act. Police have confirmed that a case of assault has been opened, while the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and South Africa’s education ministry have launched investigations. The victim’s mother told News24 that her son is a cancer survivor who had completed chemotherapy earlier this year. “My child had just beaten cancer, only for something like this to happen to him,” she said. The boy has since been withdrawn from the school for his safety, according to his uncle.
Public anger boiled over on Wednesday when parents and community members protested outside the school, demanding justice. Police dispersed the crowd using tear gas after the demonstration turned tense. Members of political parties and civil rights groups also joined the protest, pledging continued demonstrations until action is taken. Amnesty International South Africa described the video as “deeply disturbing,” urging “timely disciplinary action” and condemning the normalization of violence in schools. “No child should ever endure such brutality in a place meant to protect them,” the organization said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
Education officials have called for calm, urging the public not to share or repost the video to protect the victim’s privacy and mental well-being. The WCED said it is “treating the matter with the seriousness it warrants,” adding that the suspended pupils will face disciplinary hearings and possible expulsion. Joy Maimela, chairperson of Parliament’s education committee, said the video was “not merely bullying but borders on criminal assault,” calling for urgent legal consequences for the perpetrators and accountability from school administrators. The incident has reignited debate about violence in South African schools, where viral videos of physical bullying have become increasingly common. Experts say overcrowded classrooms, weak supervision, and a culture of impunity have allowed the crisis to worsen.
