A school bullying incident that was posted online by an East London pupil has revealed the existence of an alleged gang culture and substance abuse by underage schoolgirls in the city.
This came to light after a 17-year-old Kusile Comprehensive High School girl posted on social media about allegedly being abused by a group of 13 girls, consisting of 13-17-year-olds from various schools in Duncan Village.
This led to the involvement of the Duncan Village Community Policing Forum (CPF) which cracked down on the group, subsequently unravelling a gang culture operating within the community.
The 17-year-old pupil, who cannot be named, had asked the community for intervention as she claimed she was being bullied on Fridays after school.
The gang is allegedly known as the “Sdovela Gang” which is said to consist of pupils from Mzokhanyo, Lumko, Sinokhanyo high schools and Parkside Primary.
There are two other groups, the “Slime Gang” and “OTF”, with pupils from the same schools and Ebenezer Majombozi High.
She has since removed the post.
However, Duncan Village CPF deputy chair Sicelo Heukile said they were shocked to find out that the matter started in an illegal liquor outlet in Duncan Village.
The forum, with the liquor board, had previously shut down this outlet numerous times for compliance issues relating to selling of alcohol to underage children and lack of registration.
Heukile said on Friday that the gang culture had manifested throughout schools in Duncan Village.
He said the CPF had called a meeting on Friday where the representatives of the schools, parents and community members were present.
“We noticed that all of them were saying the same thing, that the incident does not occur during school hours and it started as a quarrel in a tavern.
“Imagine these young people being involved in that and the oldest in the group is 17.
“They fought over a boy in this tavern we had tried to close numerous times. We shut it down and it opens the following day.
“Then this escalated and the gang kept on targeting her every Friday after school where they [allegedly] beat her. Even the victim is at fault because she is 17 and going to a tavern,” Heukile said.
Heukile said all the pupils involved were given a warning.
“We told them to dismantle these gangs and from now on they must join sport. They agreed, hugged and forgave each other, vowing not to do it again.”
He said the gang culture was due to the social ills plaguing the community.
“What is heartbreaking is that the reason these kids called themselves Isidovela is because they feel undermined by other groups of girls because they stay in shacks and eat isidovela every day.”
Isidovela is a meal where rice is cooked with potatoes in the same pot, then it is mixed until it becomes a mash.
“We also noticed that 90% of the pupils don’t stay with their parents. Some of their parents are staying in other areas while others have passed on.
“Two girls, aged 16 and 17, stay together in a shack while their parent, who is based in Qumbu, sends money monthly, how does that happen, it’s related to the social ills,” Heukile said.
“We found a shack where they smoke and drink alcohol, it even has a sign, “Sdovela”, which we found absurd.”
Duncan Village school governing body (SGB) chair Thembisa Beula described the matter as disheartening.
“We were shocked to know as parents that this thing had started in November 2024 in a shebeen and has been ongoing.
“It is disheartening because it will also dent the reputation of these schools.” ”
Beula said the schools had resolved to form a school disciplinary group that would look into issues of bullying and substance abuse at all affected schools.
“We’ve brought everyone on board to look at things our kids face, we want the principals to also be involved,” she said.
Education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said the department was yet to receive a report on the incident.
This comes as the provincial education department has to decide whether to expel five David Mama pupils accused of physically assaulting an 18-year-old girl in a separate incident caught on video.
The school’s SGB suspended the pupils for 14 days as it conducts its investigation.
SGB chair Mcingisi Ngqiniso said last week they had recommended the expulsion of the boys following the disciplinary hearing.
Ngqiniso said the two female pupils, who had recorded the incident, were given school service punishment where they cleaned the school’s premises for 10 hours.
Mtima confirmed that all the legal procedures concerning the disciplinary processes had been concluded.
“The district director is now processing the report with its recommendations.
“A final report will then be presented to the school and the parents of both the victims and the perpetrators.
“Therefore, we are unable to make any pronouncement until such a procedure is concluded,” Mtima said.
Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana warned that bullying was a serious issue with serious consequences.
She said bullying victims, whether through cyberbullying or assault, suffered profound psychological harm and perpetrators could face criminal charges.
“Minors are not exempt from the law and can face a criminal record, diversion programmes, and other legal repercussions,” she said.
“Our approach prioritises restorative justice, but we will not hesitate to enforce the law where a crime has been committed.
“We urge parents to discuss the severe impact of bullying with their children and encourage all victims to come forward,” Gantana said.
Daily Dispatch
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