In this episode of Melvee Family Pod, we share a topic we hope every child and parent will take keen interest in. Tragically, bullying continues to be a part of the everyday life of school-going children in South Africa. Bullying at school is increasingly becoming a nightmare for scholars and parents across the country, threatening a child’s physical and emotional safety, in addition to having a negative impact on their ability to learn. Bullying is defined as any abuse of actual or perceived power that targets minors (anyone under 18 in South Africa). Bullying includes physical attacks, purposeful alienation, spreading false rumours, verbal abuse, and various forms of emotional mistreatment. It also consists of any form of cyber-bullying as well. The situation is further exacerbated in the case of a child with a disability, affecting their self-esteem and ostracising them socially even more than they were before. According to a South African study that was completed by Pondering Panda in 2013, a staggering 57% of children in South African schools are bullied, with 52% of respondents saying that they were teased and insulted. A further 26% were physically abused by being pushed, hit, or beaten and 16% were cyberbullied via their phone, e-mail, or social network platforms. When asked whether learners at their school brought guns, knives, and other dangerous weapons to school, 45% of respondents said yes.