A 13-year-old boy died on Tuesday morning after succumbing to injuries allegedly believed to be as a result of being bullied.
The boy and his brother were beaten repeatedly by other learners at a school in Benoni.
His mother blames the teachers, saying they should have done more.
Speaking to 702's Stephen Grootes earlier on Thursday morning, Basic Education Department director-general, Mathanzima Mweli says what we see happening in schools is a true reflection of what is happening in society.
Clinical Psychologist Jeremy Bayer highlighted some of the indicators parents could look out for to identify if their child is being bullied.
- Academic deterioration
- Difficulty concentrating in class
- Absenteeism (When they don't want to get out of bed to go to school)
- Low self-esteem
- Dissatisfaction with self-image
- Change in personality
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviour
It is important for parents to know that the consequences of bullying can be catastrophic.
— Jeremy Bayer, Clinical Psychologist
To hear the rest of the interview, listen below:
This article first appeared on CapeTalk : Red flags that your child may be a victim of bullying