VOSLOORUS, GAUTENG – 23 July 2025 – Twelve days ago, 16‑year‑old Thapelo Motha walked into Thuto Lesedi Secondary School clutching his school bag. Within minutes, he was beaten into unconsciousness—by pupils who simply wanted to take it.
By the time his mother, Nomthandazo Ndaba, arrived, her son was bleeding, vomiting and barely breathing. A broken nose. Emergency surgery on his left eye. Overnight stay in the ICU at Clinix Botshelong‑Empilweni. “My son never told me he was being bullied,” she says, voice cracking. “Now he might never see again.”
(Daily Sun)
“They Followed Him. They Bullied Him. And Then They Beat Him Up.”
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Thapelo is a Grade 8 pupil, not a school troublemaker. But a group of older boys had been harassing him daily. He hid if he saw them near school gates. “He was always on the run,” says his mother.
(CMBinary) -
On Wednesday, 23 July, school staff called Ndaba to say her son was in a fight. When she got there, she says, “He was bleeding and vomiting… admitted straight to ICU.”
(Daily Sun) -
At the hospital, the marks were clear: fractured nose and swelling around the eye socket. Surgery followed—but the threat of permanent damage remains.
Justice Is Slow, Healing Is Hard
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The Gauteng Department of Education says one pupil in Grade 10 has been suspended and District-based psycho-social teams are providing support.
(gauteng.gov.za) -
A police case of common assault was opened at Vosloorus SAPS—but, as of 2 August, no arrests have been made.
(Daily Sun) -
Ndaba calls it “an insult”: her son identified ten attackers; only one named pupil suspended. She’s demanding full accountability—and she’s asking: why weren’t we interviewed?
Why This Happens: Beyond the Beating
The incident lays bare a deeper issue:
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Unchecked bully culture in township schools – Thuto Lesedi serves nearly 2 000 learners, yet trust between parents and school appears broken. Teachers rely on disciplinary measures only after serious harm.
(education.gov.za) -
Cultural silence – Kids like Thapelo often internalise fear. They don’t tell parents. They hope it stops. When it doesn’t, it escalates.
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Structural failings – Gauteng’s MEC has urged schools to ensure safer physical environments and anti-bullying campaigns. But, according to community advocates, the province lacks consistent enforcement.
(gauteng.gov.za)
Where Thapelo’s Story Fits in a Larger Pattern
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Thuto Lesedi made headlines in 2019 when two Grade 12 pupils were suspended for an alleged rape of a Grade 9 girl — but that scandal involves Serious Sexual Offences Units, not mental trauma.
(iol.co.za) -
In May 2025, seven girls from four Gauteng schools faced court over viral bullying videos captured on social media. None faced serious consequences.
(gauteng.gov.za)
What Thapelo's family is asking for:
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Immediate suspension of all pupils involved in the attack (not just one).
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Mandatory psycho-social support for Thapelo—counselling if he ever returns to school.
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Transparent investigation led by the Gauteng Department of Education.
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Upgraded school protocols—such as wearable panic-button badges, anonymous reporting lines and CCTV access in corridors.
What You Can Do: The Power of Collective Action
You might ask: What can I, as a reader, do?
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Spread Thapelo’s story. Social media likes don’t bring change—it takes attention and unified voices.
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Hold local schools accountable. Gauteng schools must be partners in safety—not hiding places for silence.
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Push for system fixes. The Gauteng Department of Education and Gauteng Provincial Government have issued anti-bullying statements—but bold steps like a province-wide hotline are still missing.
(gauteng.gov.za)
Why This Blog Matters
At Daily South African Pulse, we believe no story of school violence should disappear into a statistic. This isn’t just about one attack on Thapelo. It’s about:
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How fear thrives when accountability fails.
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The urgent need for schools to treat bullying as a public health issue.
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The responsibility we all share—to speak up for silent victims.
🗳️ Poll: Should All Gauteng Schools Install a 24‑Hour Bullying Hotline?
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Yes—every learner needs an anonymous reporting option.
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No—schools just use phones or parent supervision.
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Better: Teachers need training and trust to act.
Vote and share your thoughts in the comments below.
To all readers: If you have personal experience with school bullying in Gauteng—or ideas that could help reform school culture—please share in the comments. Let’s turn empathy into action.
Read also our investigation into teen violence in township schools, and how community activism is reshaping juvenile justice in Ekurhuleni.
🙏 Thank you for taking the time to listen—and please follow us as we track justice for Thapelo.
Last note: zonder excuses, zonder luister—only the truth. source
🔗 Sources
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Daily Sun, “Bullying lands pupil in ICU!” (31 July 2025) – Photos and quotes from Thapelo’s family and hospital visit.
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IOL / The Post, coverage of recent bullying-related suspensions and investigations.
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Gauteng Provincial Government, “Together, we can end Bullying in Schools” media release.
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Gauteng Department of Education, statements from Steve Mabona on handling of Vosloorus case.
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