Grade 3 pupil’s suicide exposes bullying crisis in Eastern Cape schools

The Eastern Cape is grappling with grief and outrage after Imibongo Ntamehlo, a Grade 3 pupil at Gxulu Primary School, was found dead early on Sunday morning. Community members who knew the young girl say the signs were there. According to people close to the family, Imibongo had spoken to relatives about difficulties she was experiencing at school.

Classmates had reportedly been mocking and taunting her, calling her “ugly” and laughing at her – cruelty that, over time, appears to have taken a devastating toll. The department announced that in the same week, St Patrick’s High School Grade 12 pupil Aya Velelo also passed away. He died on Thursday morning at the home where he was renting accommodation, and the school was notified of his death by his landlord.

“Circumstances leading to both deaths are being investigated by the department,” Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima stated. MEC Fundile Gade and Head of Department Sharon Maasdorp extended their condolences to both families. Mtima said the department activated its psychosocial support teams at both schools.

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Counsellors were deployed to provide trauma debriefing for affected pupils, teachers and family members. “As the sector, we send our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and school communities,” said Gade.

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