Sea Point High pupil pleads for help after months of bullying

Police are investigating a case of assault after a 15-year-old Sea Point High School pupil claimed he was bullied for months and his alleged attackers threatened to end his life.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said it was made aware of the physical attacks and that disciplinary action would take place for the pupils allegedly involved.

During an exclusive interview with Cape Argus, the pupil, accompanied by his father, described months of violence with attacks that went unchecked.

The Grade 8 pupil broke his silence last week when the "attacks" escalated and were caught on video.

He said the abuse has been constant and that a group of older pupils has terrorised him since the second term.

“I’ve been bullied since May, and it’s a gang of seven or eight kids that are involved,” he said.

“They search me every morning when I get to school, and if I don’t have money on me, they beat me. They told me that if I tell anyone, they’ll murder me. I believe them.”

“I’ve been punched, smacked and kicked. Yesterday, I couldn’t open my mouth because it was so painful,” he said.

He believes he has been targeted.

“These seven or eight learners are picking on me specifically. I just want to be left alone and for them to be in jail. I don’t want other children to have to experience what happened to me.”

His father said his son has been living in fear and finally broke his silence in a bid to end his trauma. 

“When he gets to school, they are waiting for him,” he said.

“Whenever he has a project for school, he completes it but doesn’t submit it because he is concerned that these learners will break it.”

The father said the latest attack forced him to act.

“I have videos of these attacks that I’m quite happy to share with the public if it means that the same thing won’t happen to another child.”

He added that the school advised him to go to the police.

“The school has said that I can go to the police and that they will investigate. What is there to investigate? We have it on video,” he said.

“I haven’t been to the police up until now because I didn’t want to give the school a bad reputation but I’ve had enough now. Nothing is more important to me than my children, especially not the school’s reputation.”

He is now unsure about next year. 

“It’s the end of the year now, and I’m still not sure what we are going to do next term. If the school can assure me that nothing further is going to happen to him, I would like to keep him in the school. Sea Point has quite a good reputation, and changing schools isn’t easy for anyone.”

He fears a repeat of Milnerton High, where a bullying complaint triggered disciplinary action and a criminal investigation a month ago. The investigation into that particular matter is set to continue after the exams.

Eight pupils were arrested, two of whom are juveniles, with the court case set to continue in January 2026.

“I don’t want to see what happened at Milnerton High happen at Sea Point. We need to set an example to make sure that something like this doesn’t happen to any other children," the father said.

"We need to send a message to all the bullies. I just hope the school itself doesn’t hold this against him because this isn’t good for their reputation.”

WCED spokesperson Millicent Merton confirmed the incident. 

“Sea Point High School received a report from a learner’s father last night indicating that his son was physically attacked by three other learners.

"The parents/guardians of the learners involved have been contacted, and disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with the school’s Code of Conduct. The school has also been informed that the matter has been reported to the South African Police Service. It is further noted that the learner had previously reported incidents of bullying, and the school had implemented support measures at that time.”

Provincial police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed a case is under investigation.  “Kindly be advised that an assault common case has been registered at Sea Point SAPS for investigation. He said investigations continue, and no arrests has been made.