READ-Suspect in Milnerton High School Assault Case Escapes Injury in Phoenix Hit-and-Run

Cape Town, October 24, 2025 – A teenager charged in connection with a brutal assault on a younger student at Milnerton High School in the Western Cape avoided serious harm in a hit-and-run incident outside his family home in Phoenix on October 22, 2025. The close call occurred amid heightened tensions following the viral spread of footage depicting the school attack, which has drawn widespread condemnation across South Africa.

The original incident at Milnerton High School involved several senior rugby players attacking a grade 10 learner. Captured on video, the assault showed the victim being repeatedly struck while a group of other students observed without intervening. The footage, which surfaced publicly in recent days, quickly gained traction online, prompting an outpouring of public anger and demands for swift justice from authorities and school officials.

In response to the assault, the implicated learners, including the senior rugby team members involved, were immediately suspended from Milnerton High School. Western Cape education officials confirmed the suspensions as a preliminary measure while investigations proceeded. The students, facing formal criminal charges related to the attack, made their initial court appearance at the Cape Town Magistrates' Court shortly after the video emerged. During the proceedings, one of the charged individuals was granted bail, with the case set for further hearings.

The hit-and-run incident involving the suspect unfolded on October 22, 2025, just one day prior to the court session. According to dashcam recordings from a nearby vehicle, the teenager was walking outside his residence in the Phoenix area when an oncoming car accelerated toward him. In a split-second reaction, the youth dove to the side, evading direct impact with the vehicle, which then fled the scene. No physical injuries were reported from the encounter, though the event has added a layer of concern to the ongoing legal and school disciplinary processes.

Authorities have linked the accident's timing to the recent online exposure of the suspects' personal information. Details about the locations of the alleged perpetrators' homes were disseminated on social media platforms following the assault video's release, potentially escalating risks to those involved. Police have not yet detailed any leads on the hit-and-run driver, but the incident has been flagged in connection with the broader fallout from the school violence.

The Western Cape Department of Education issued a statement acknowledging awareness of the Phoenix event. Officials described the dashcam footage as deeply unsettling and verified that the teenager in question was among those suspended from Milnerton High School for the assault. At this stage, no formal police case has been registered regarding the hit-and-run, though the department emphasized its commitment to student safety amid the unfolding circumstances.

On a national level, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube addressed the Milnerton High School assault in a public statement released one day after the video began circulating widely. In her remarks, Gwarube underscored that acts of violence and bullying are unacceptable within South African educational institutions. She pledged close oversight of the matter, including collaboration with local authorities to ensure appropriate accountability measures are implemented.

The minister's comments came against a backdrop of scrutiny over the pace of official responses to the incident. Some observers noted the one-day delay in her statement following the video's viral peak, describing it as measured but tardy in addressing the immediate public concerns raised by the assault.

As proceedings continue in the Cape Town Magistrates' Court, the case remains a focal point for discussions on school safety and the consequences of unchecked aggression among students. Milnerton High School has not released additional updates on the suspensions or internal probes, but the events of the past week highlight the ripple effects of such incidents beyond the school grounds. Further developments are anticipated as investigations into both the assault and the Phoenix accident progress.