Viral video of teenage girls attacking peer sparks police investigation

Police are investigating four teenage girls from Bridgetown for assault following the emergence of videos depicting them attacking another girl from the area.

The footage shows the group, described as "mean girls," encouraging one another to physically assault the victim before two of them carry out the attack on separate occasions.

The incident occurred on September 12 in Nantes Park, shortly after the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been socialising with friends.

But the Grade 8 learner says that once the group of girls showed up, the atmosphere changed when one of them became jealous of her hanging out with a boy who she liked.

The victim said: “The whole mood changed when the girls came. One of the girls stopped talking to me and moved away from me. 

“They called me outside and they pushed me and one of the girls against each other saying that we had to fight.

“Then one of the girls pulled me aside to talk to me and asked me what’s the story with me and this boy and I explained that we are friends and that nothing was going on. I also knew she liked him, because he told me.”

As she walked through Nantes Park, the girls were walking behind the victim filmed the build-up to the attack.

On the video, they said: “You klap (smack) her then, [the other girl] continues,” “the children won’t tell your daddy,” “she wants more, hit her her.”

That’s when she was attacked, with the victim adding: “They came back three or four times as well. All the videos, even the small children trapped me on my face.”

The victim’s mother has since opened a case of assault, with police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirming: “Kindly be advised that the mentioned case number is a common assault case registered at Athlone SAPS for investigation. 

“The mentioned incident happened on September 12 at 4pm at Nantes Park, Loerier Road, Bridgetown, Athlone. Investigations continue, no arrests as yet.”

The girls have since apologised for the attack in a follow-up video, with one saying: "I'm sorry for hitting you and won't do it again. I hope you can forgive me."

But the victim’s angry mother is not buying it.

“Anyone can see in the apology video that there is no remorse and that they keep getting other people to message my daughter.

“I can’t say I want them to be arrested. I am upset, I am a mother, yes, but nothing was done and everyone has a lot to say on what should be done, but nothing has happened and their lives are going on as per usual,” she said.

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