Silent Violence: The Devastating Impact of Social Bullying Revealed

A shocking incident at a Limpopo, where a Grade 10 school girl committed suicide after being assaulted by a classmate has raised the concerns about youth violence and bullying in schools. What made the matter more concerning is that while the incident was captured on camera, the school children allegedly cheered and no-one tried to help her.

Many young people today want to be Instafamous and well-known, and a disturbing trend of filming and sharing school violence is making things worse. This kind of trauma can have lasting effects on the victim’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Youth violence is becoming a significant problem in both public and private schools, with one in five high school students reporting being bullied on school grounds in recent years.

A study revealed that 42% of boys and 37% of girls have experienced bullying. Youth violence refers to violent acts committed by individuals aged 10-29 with the intent to harm others. Shockingly, an estimated 200,000 such incidents occur in this age group. It often starts with violence and can escalate to severe harm or even death.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is taking steps to combat youth violence by collaborating with international agencies. WHO views these acts as health-related issues with deep-seated roots and historical factors.

Those affected by these violent acts, like Thuli *, a former pupil and victim of school bullying, who we spoke to, often find themselves trapped in a cycle of unresolved violence. They may turn to substance abuse or some become bullies themselves as a coping mechanism. This leads to social, emotional, and academic problems, isolation, and loss of interest in activities. As a result of social media sharing, a victim’s trauma may continue to haunt them and create a form of secondary psychological victimisation.

Youth crime involves young people engaging in illegal activities that go against community expectations. Some may channel their childhood traumas and aggressions into crimes like stealing, robbery, and hijacking. These actions are harmful, illegal, and considered illegitimate by law.

In South Africa, where gender-based violence is alarmingly high, young people are also at risk of exposure to violence at home and in their surroundings. In 2023, an unusually high number of deaths occurred among those aged 15-29. The South African Minister Bheki Cele reported about 6,424 deaths in the first quarter of 2023. This high rate of crime and violence makes South Africa an unsafe place for both the youth and all its residents.

Crime doesn’t just affect victims; it impacts society and the country as a whole. It takes a financial toll on communities, instills fear, and can lead to the closure of businesses. This, in turn, contributes to poverty as people lose their jobs, income, savings, and assets. The country’s development is hindered when businesses shut down due to crime.

Young people who suffer physical or cyberbullying (or if you know someone who is being bullied), should contact your school counsellor or a free counselling hotline like the SA Depression and Anxiety Group (0800-567567) or LifeLine South Africa (0861-322322) for counselling and advice.

This article was originally published by Khulani!, a youth media project by the Department of Media and Communication of Nelson Mandela University, based in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape.