A VIRAL VIDEO OF A SOCIAL MEDIA USER SPITING HURTFUL WORDS ABOUT THE VAAL SCHOLARS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES
When Words Hurt More Than Silence: Outrage Over Cruel Comments About the Vaal School Tragedy
South Africa is still mourning after a tragic accident in the Vaal that took the lives of 12 school pupils. These were children on their way to school — innocent, full of dreams, and with their whole lives ahead of them. The pain felt by their families, schools, and the nation is deep and real.
But while the country was united in grief, a viral video surfaced that shocked and angered many people.
In the video, a grown man is seen and heard saying cruel and senseless things about the tragedy. He claims the children “deserved it” and says people who are saying “rest in peace” are crazy. He questions who people expected to die if not the children. He goes on to say the nation is making a big deal about people who “only had birth certificates to their names,” comparing their deaths to the loss of great figures like Nelson Mandela.
These words cut deep.
Many South Africans reacted with anger, hurt, and disbelief. People asked one simple question: who speaks like this about children? Children who did nothing wrong. Children who could have become doctors, teachers, leaders, or anything they dreamed of being.
Some viewers said they once respected the man in the video but have now lost all respect for him. Others said his behavior seemed disturbing and suggested he might have been under the influence of drugs — though this remains speculation and has not been proven.
There has also been online speculation about the identity of the man, with some suggesting he looks and sounds like a known individual. However, there is no confirmed or verified information about who the man is, and it is important not to accuse or misidentify people without facts.
What this situation really shows is how dangerous words can be, especially during times of grief. Social media gives everyone a voice, but not every thought needs to be shared — especially when it lacks compassion.
This was not just an accident. It was a national tragedy. Twelve families lost their children. Classrooms were left with empty desks. Futures were stolen.
In moments like these, silence is better than cruelty. Empathy is better than arrogance. And humanity should always come before opinions.
May the young souls who lost their lives rest in peace. And may we, as a nation, never forget that children’s lives matter — no matter how small or young they may seem to others.
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