By Ndivhuwo Mukwevho
The family of a 16-year-old boy, Zwidofhela Netshiungani, who took his own life after being bullied by peers at school wants action from the provincial department of education and police.
Zwidofhela, a Grade 10 learner at Silemane Secondary School, was found hanging at his home in Khubvi near Thohoyandou in Limpopo on Tuesday evening this week. He left a suicide note detailing how he was being physically bullied at school and also named two of the alleged bullies.
His older sister, Nyawa Netshiungani, told Scrolla.Africa that the family learnt that her brother was allegedly beaten up at school by two learners on Tuesday morning and the matter was reported to the school management.
“On the same day, he told us that the matter was reported to the principal’s office, but nothing was done. He said he feared for his life. Maybe the fear of facing his attackers again drove him to taking his own life,” Nyawa said.
Last week, Scrolla.Africa reported how 13-year-old Rialivhuwa Netsianda took her life after she was bullied by peers at John Marubini Primary School near Thohoyandou.
Another report involved a desperate nine-year-old learner from the Western Cape who wants to quit school because of constant bullying.
Mosebjane Kgaffe, head of communications for the Limpopo education department, said they are aware of the two recent learner suicides.
“Learners who are victims of bullying are taken in for counselling. The perpetrators are served with notices of disciplinary hearings, and charges and sanctions are meted out to them,” he said.
But that was not the case for Zwidofhela and Rialivhuwa. They never received any counselling before their deaths and the learners who bullied them have not been served with notices of disciplinary hearings.
Nyawa said that before Tuesday the family was not aware that Zwidofhela was bullied at school.
“We have since gathered information from some of Zwidofhela’s friends and they told us that he has been physically bullied for quite some time by the alleged perpetrators who also live in Khubvi,” said Nyawa.
She said the family is still waiting for an update from the police on what will happen to the perpetrators whose names were written on Zwidofhela’s suicide note.
“They (police) took the suicide letter with them when they collected the body of my brother, and we have not yet been updated on the way forward from now, but we will do follow-ups after the funeral,” said Nyawa.
Thohoyandou police spokesperson Vuledzani Dathi had not responded to requests for updates on the case by the time of publication.
The website Law for All in an article titled “How to take a stand against being bullied at school” reports that “sadly, according to recent findings, more than 58% of South African school-goers have experienced some form of bullying, and some stories end in tragedy.”
The Department of Basic Education has a section on bullying on its website that contains advice for both parents and schools. It says that among the strategies to counter the problem, anti-bullying laws need to be enforced as part of the Code of Conduct for learners.
- If you feel suicidal or know someone who is, help is available around the clock by dialling 0800 567 567
Pictured above: The late Zwidofhela Netshiungani.
Image source: Supplied
