Gayton McKenzie Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, is calling for severe consequences for the learners involved in a brutal assault at Milnerton High School.

A viral video showed a group of learners allegedly attacking a Grade 10 pupil, sparking widespread outrage and leading to the suspension of eight learners.

Gayton condemned the incident, stating that the perpetrators must face punishment to learn a valuable lesson. “They must be punished… The bullied young man could be your or my son, and we would have been beside ourselves with rage,” he said. Gayton also promised to ensure the learners won’t participate in rugby until they’ve faced consequences.

The PA leader emphasised a tough but loving approach, saying, “My heart breaks for that young boy… Let this be a teachable moment for our kids that bullying is totally unacceptable.” The Western Cape Education Department and Milnerton High School have yet to comment on the incident.

Social media users weighed in on the minister’s comments about the incident, sharing mixed reactions to it.

One user said: “All schools should use that video as a teachable moment as a matter of urgency. They must use it as a learning material to teach kids that it’s not cool or an initiation, but that it is bullying.”

Another one wrote: “All schools in every province need to be looked at. The Department of Education just does not do enough when it comes to this matter.”

One stated: “The assaulted young man could be any one of our children; we owe him justice and our unwavering support. I am not calling for life-long punishment, but for disciplined, corrective action. It must be stern, principled, and rooted in responsibility. Let this be a teachable moment. We must raise kids who protect one another, not ones who look away.”

“My son, a Grade 10 student at Milnerton High School, has been subjected to bullying, physical assault, harassment, and emotional abuse by a group of boys, including some members of the school’s Rugby First Team. @SAPoliceService @Newzroom405 @DBE_SA pic.twitter.com/JREodsjtaA

— Itumeleng (@itumeleng_011) October 21, 2025