Sipho, a bright and hopeful 14-year-old from Pretoria, faces daily torment at school through relentless bullying that threatens his confidence, safety and dreams. The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has raised serious concerns about the prevalence of bullying in schools across the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

*Sipho, is a gentle, sweet, hopeful, playful, curious, articulate and smart boy of 14 from Pretoria. On most days, Sipho is resilient, opinionated, confident and steadfast in his sense of self. He loves to read stories about the world and dreams of becoming an accountant one day. Yet, beneath his bright, colourful spirit lies a shadow that often dims his light -- the experience of relentless bullying at school. The thought of going to school fills him with dread.

Sipho describes one incident as the one "that will live forever in his heart and mind".

After a day at school, he came home bruised and battered, not only physically but emotionally broken. During break time, a group of boys had singled him out, calling him names and pushing him against the schoolyard walls. They mocked his voice and the way he dressed, calling him "soft" and "i-chocolate boy", mocking his darker skin tone. When he tried to walk away, they grabbed him and threw him to the ground, kicking and hitting him while other students laughed and recorded the attack on their cellphones. The teachers were nowhere in sight. This moment scarred Sipho deeply, making him question his worth and...