The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, has urged parents, guardians, community leaders, and young people to collaborate with law enforcement to foster a culture of discipline, respect and accountability among the youth. This appeal follows a troubling incident involving schoolchildren and underscores the pressing need to address the rising trend of bullying with urgency and decisiveness.
General Masemola has also directed SAPS officers to respond swiftly and thoroughly to reports of bullying, stressing that delays, particularly those that result in viral videos before action is taken, must be avoided. He emphasised the critical role of school learners, bystanders, and those with knowledge of such incidents in reporting them without hesitation.
This call to action follows a specific case in which seven girls, aged between 13 and 15, were arrested after being implicated in an incident of bullying against a 14-year-old girl. The arrests formed part of a broader national effort, which saw 16,001 individuals detained for various offences during the week. The seven pupils were traced and apprehended by police and subsequently released into the custody of their parents in accordance with the Child Justice Act. They appeared before the Johannesburg Magistrates Court and are scheduled to return on Wednesday, 21 May 2025, to face charges of common assault.
General Masemola issued a clear warning that bullying is a criminal offence with serious legal consequences. He stated that acts of bullying may result in charges such as assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, common assault, crimen injuria, and others. A conviction can lead to a permanent criminal record, potentially derailing future opportunities. He warned that police would not hesitate to trace and prosecute anyone involved in such behaviour, highlighting cases in which victims of bullying have taken their own lives. He also cautioned bystanders against enabling or encouraging bullying, noting they could be held legally accountable as accomplices.
The SAPS, in partnership with the Department of Basic Education through the School Safety Memorandum of Understanding, has been conducting awareness campaigns in schools across South Africa. These initiatives include talks on the dangers of bullying and gangsterism, as well as targeted raids to search for sharp objects, drugs, and illegal weapons.
The Commissioner called on all South Africans to stand united in opposition to bullying to ensure the creation of safer environments for young people.
This recent case is one of several that SAPS has dealt with in recent weeks. In Letlhabile, near Brits, police arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with a separate bullying incident. That investigation, which involves up to 20 other children, remains ongoing.
Operation Shanela successes
The arrests form part of Operation Shanela, which was conducted nationwide between 12 and 18 May 2025. During this period, SAPS recorded significant law enforcement actions, including 223 arrests for rape, with KwaZulu-Natal accounting for 106 of those. There were 82 arrests for illegal firearm possession, 272 for illegal drug dealing, with the Western Cape leading at 55 arrests, 646 for illegal alcohol trading, and 2,847 for drug possession, over half of which were in the Western Cape. In addition, police arrested 183 individuals for murder, with the Eastern Cape accounting for the highest number at 52.
Further notable figures include 81 arrests for illicit mining and 679 for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Among the notable confiscations were 65 hijacked or stolen vehicles and 128 illegal firearms.
