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Seatides School Bullying Case Sparks Anger After Grade 11 Learner Assaulted
A father speaks out
A Grade 11 learner from Seatides Combined School in Tongaat has been left traumatised after he was beaten by two fellow pupils in what his father claims was a racially motivated attack. Sixteen-year-old Kairav was assaulted during lunch break when two boys, believed to be brothers in grades 10 and 11, confronted him over a bench.
According to his father, Neeraj Nundhraj, the confrontation quickly turned violent. “They punched my son’s face, kicked him to the ground, and got on top of him. He was too scared to fight back and just took the beating,” he explained.
The incident left Kairav with injuries to his head, hand, and face. His father says he has medical documentation to prove the severity of the assault.
Concerns about the school’s response
What has angered the family most is how the school handled the matter. Nundhraj alleges that the teacher on duty checked on the attackers rather than his son, and that the disciplinary hearing that followed felt rushed and inadequate.
The hearing took place on 29 August while Nundhraj was out of the province. He requested a postponement, but this was denied. His wife and son attended alone, and the process lasted only 15 minutes. The outcome was a short suspension for the two boys, who were back in class by the following Monday.
“The school treated this incident very lightly. Those boys were given a slap on the wrist while my son was left traumatised. He was not even offered counselling,” Nundhraj said.
A learner’s voice
For Kairav, the ordeal has left lasting scars. He says he is disappointed and feels let down by the system meant to protect him. “Nothing much was done to the two boys who assaulted me. They got away easily. They turned on me for sitting on a bench. That was uncalled for.”
His father added that Kairav has since become withdrawn and fearful of going to school, raising questions about how safe learners truly are in South African classrooms.
The school and official responses
Seatides Combined School principal, Ruvandhiran Naidoo, said the matter was dealt with according to the School Code of Conduct, aligned with the South African Schools Act. “We condemn bullying and work tirelessly to ensure its eradication. The incident was referred to the disciplinary committee, which acted within the required framework,” he said.
A case of assault has been opened at Tongaat Police Station. At the time of reporting, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education had not responded to queries.
Bigger picture: bullying in South African schools
This case is the latest in a string of bullying and violence incidents that have raised alarm about the culture of safety in South African schools. Parents across the country have taken to social media in recent years to question whether disciplinary processes protect victims or simply move bullies back into classrooms.
While the outcome of the police investigation remains to be seen, the story of one Grade 11 learner in Tongaat highlights a broader challenge: ensuring that schools are not just centres of learning but safe spaces where children of all backgrounds can feel protected.
Also read: FBI Releases Photos of Person of Interest in Charlie Kirk Killing
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Freepik
