Western Cape Education Department (WCED) are investigating an incident of bullying at the school after a video of a male student setting his female classmates hair on fire has gone viral.
According to the department the learner has since been suspended from Belgravia High School, after the shocking video surfaced.
He can be seen dousing the girl’s hair with a liquid before setting her hair on fire, laughing the entire time.
The incident comes weeks after Lufuno Mavhungo, the 15-year old who committed suicide after she was bullied in Limpopo, sparking heated debate about the severity of bullying in schools throughout the country.
Statistics of bullying in South Africa are dated and a 2014 survey taken with over 2000 students revealed that an astounding 58% of students were victims of bullying.
Bullied victims showed higher suicidal behaviour but most were unlikely to seek help for fear of further humiliation and victimisation.
WCED confirmed that the male learner was suspended as a precaution pending a disciplinary hearing and the female student is receiving counselling and therapy from Belgravia High School.
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