This comes after an incident involving two grade 11 learners was reported to the school by the alleged victim's parent on Tuesday.

According to the North West Department of Education's spokesperson, Elias Malindi, the incident is reported to have taken place on Monday after school and the unpleasant video has since been circulating on social media. As a result, it was seen by a departmental official.

The school principal reportedly called the alleged perpetrator to his office after he found out about the incident. He questioned her and she admitted that the incident took place. As a result, she has been suspended temporarily, pending the formal disciplinary hearing.

"I have been informed of this appalling act of bullying and I strongly condemn it in our schools and among our learners. I want to say it outright, we have zero tolerance of any form of victimisation and we are therefore investigating the matter with much-needed urgency. My request to the public is to stop circulating the video as it aggravates the matter. Let us be sensitive to the two minors and the families involved. Let us leave it to the assigned department to attend to it. I call for sensitivity," said Matsemela.

Meanwhile, the victim's mother is reported to have opened a case with the police. Malindi said  the bullied learner is being monitored. The department's inclusive education sector, together with the Department of Social Development, have been assigned to render counselling services to learners, while the South African Police Services' (SAPS) Adopt-a-cop has been called in to remind learners of the consequences of bullying.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi