DURBAN - Emotional and cyberbullying are worse than physical abuse in schools, Deputy Minister of Basic Education Dr Reginah Mhaule has said.
She was addressing pupils during the second leg of a bullying prevention event in schools at Ga-Nchabeleng, Sekhukhune in Limpopo on Friday.
She was flanked by Deputy Minister in the Presidency Pinky Kekana, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development John Jeffery and Limpopo MEC for Education Polly Boshielo.
“In 2016, emotional bullying remained the most prevalent form of bullying among secondary school learners at 82.6%, followed by 56.7% of cyberbullying and physical bullying at 42.3%.
“Based on the study, cyberbullying has increased – and even surpassed physical bullying,” Mhaule said.
The engagement was prompted by the rise in bullying following the death of 15-year-old Lufuno Mavhunga, who committed suicide after a video went viral of her being slapped in April.
THE MERCURY