Seven teenage girls, aged 13 to 14, have been arrested in Gauteng, South Africa, after a bullying video involving them went viral on social media.
Colonel Mavela Masondo, national police spokesperson, confirmed the arrests took place on Sunday, May 18, 2025, with the girls subsequently released into the custody of their parents.
The video, which sparked widespread outrage online, shows a group of girls assaulting another teenager in Bellevue, Johannesburg, on May 10, 2025.
In the footage, the victim is seated on a bed surrounded by others before four girls approach her. After a brief argument, one of the girls slaps the victim, who then covers her face with her hands.
The seven teens now face charges of common assault and are scheduled to appear in their local court on Monday, May 19, 2025.
“A case of common assault was opened at the local police station, and the suspects were apprehended,” Masondo stated.
