Fourteen-year-old Danisha Windvogel committed suicide six months ago after reportedly being bullied. Her death rocked the Franschhoek community but it did not stop her bullies.
Recently one Danisha’s friends, who also attends Franschhoek High School, attempted suicide.
Both Grade 8 learners were allegedly bullied by the same group of girls.
The mother of the teen who attempted suicide this month, who spoke to Weekend Argus on condition of anonymity to protect her daughter’s identity, has even opened a case of assault against one of the bullies who shoved her daughter.
The mother said the 14-year-old had attempted suicide on three different occasions. “I dread the day when I walk into her room and she has no pulse. This is how serious it has become. We also approached the school and nothing was done,” she said.
“Imagine as a mother how helpless you feel to know that you have tried to find a solution, but there is just no answer.”
Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed a case of assault had been opened and was being investigated. No arrests had yet been made.
Danisha’s mother Galeisha Windvogel said she reported the incidents of her daughter’s bullying to the school on many occasions.
Her daughter ended her life days after posting a Facebook message, asking God to correct, direct and protect her.
Windvogel told Weekend Argus that when she learnt about a criminal case being opened by another mother, it gave her hope that something might come from an investigation.
“It’s been (over) six months since the death of my daughter and there are days when it’s not easy. But with this case being made, as a broken parent I feel that we will get some closure to this terrible ordeal,” she said.
It was never our intention to cause any harm to others but as a mother I need to understand what drove my daughter to this extent, committing suicide.
“We also raise our children to the best of our abilities and know that once they leave our homes they want to fit in with society.”
The Western Cape Education Department recorded 96 cases of bullying this year.
The department (WCED) said it had reports of five learners who committed suicide between January and September. And although the cases cannot be solely linked to bullying at schools, parents have raised their concerns over increased rates and the severity of incidents.
WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said Danisha’s death had devastated the school community.
“This was a tragic and sad loss for all. We do hold the view that the school and the WCED have taken active steps through its ongoing programmes to minimise the risk of bullying at the school and provide support,” she said.
“The allegations regarding her two friends being bullied are being investigated.”
Hammond said steps were being taken to appoint social auxiliary workers to school districts to deal with “high risk” schools.
“We have also appointed 160 care and support assistants (CSAs) in our "high risk" schools, e.g, schools with great need for psycho-school support,” she said.
“Some schools also have their own social workers or counsellors, appointed by their school governing bodies. (WCED) works with the Department of Social Development and NGOs to assist us in dealing with certain issues.”
Hammond added that psychologist sessions were also available for learners presenting with self-harm and with parents to inform them about bullying and how to identify whether a child was a victim.
Founder of Parents for Equal Education SA, Vanessa Le Roux, accused the WCED of failing learners and families affected by bullying.
“Clearly the current bullying programmes are not working, for as long schools treat this as just another exercise where they tick off the boxes, we will continue on a fatal trend,” she said.
“We have a moral obligation to teach our children that these acts (of bullying) are criminal, and there are consequences to criminality, we welcome the investigations.”
Director of the Mental Health Information Centre, Janine Roos, said studies have found a link between bullying and a higher risk of mental health problems, such as low self-esteem, poor school performance, depression, and an increased risk for suicide.
“Some studies have shown that children who were bullied frequently were more likely to develop a psychiatric disorder that needed treatment. Research also shows that being involved in bullying in any way (being a bully or a victim), is one of several important risk factors that appears to increase the risk of suicide among youth,” she said.
Roos explained that bullying is very difficult for children to deal with.
“It makes you feel afraid, alone, and degraded and often it makes a person feel like they are worthless.”