Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has vowed to take action against the eight Milnerton High School learners – some of them being junior Springboks – who were caught assaulting a younger learner in a viral video.
The learners have since been suspended and have appeared in court on criminal charges.
GAYTON MCKENZIE ADMONISHES MILNERTON HIGH SCHOOL BULLIES
On social media, Gayton McKenzie shared his views on the Milnerton High School bullies amid the backlash.
He posted on the Patriotic Alliance Facebook page: “Don’t protect wrongdoing.
Those school bullies need to be dealt with; they must be punished in order to learn a valuable lesson that will serve them well in their own future. The bullied young man could be your or my son, and we would have been beside ourselves with rage.
Gayton added that he had “demanded action to be taken against the wrongdoers”.
He continued: “I will make sure that until they have paid fully for their crimes, they not be allowed to continue playing rugby at that level. I am never an advocate for forever punishment, I shall deal with this matter like a father would deal with his sons, tough but with love.
He added: “Let this be a teachable moment even for our kids. Bullying is totally unacceptable”.
When one X user asked Gayton to get involved in the action against the school and the bullies, he responded: “I have done more than any politician so far,1) I publicly berated a small group who defended the bullies. 2) I wrote to SARU to take action. 3) I deployed the National Chair of @OnsBaizaNie to the school.
SARU: ‘BULLIES ARE NOT WELCOME IN OUR SPORT’
Responding to Gayton McKenzie’s letter, Saru President Mark Alexander issued a statement on the Milnerton High School incident.
He stated: “It is unfortunate and unfair that a schoolyard incident has been linked to our sport, but we take this opportunity to underline rugby’s values. Our sport teaches discipline, humility, and empathy – values that are foundational to a child’s development and to the spirit of our sport.
“ Individuals who engage in bullying are not welcome in our sport. I urge all young men and women aspiring to build a future in rugby to heed this warning: bullying is totally unacceptable”.
