By Lebone Rodah Mosima
Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube on Thursday urged school leaders to act swiftly on allegations of bullying and violence.
She tied the appeal to the International Day against Violence and Bullying at school, including cyberbullying.
In a post on X, she said the commemoration was a reminder of the responsibility to protect the “rights and dignity of every learner and every teacher in South Africa”.
Gwarube said that learners need to be guided, supported and taught to make the right choices.
She said that with violence occurring, and when learners harm others or bring dangerous drugs and weapons into schools, schools must act.
“Our approach must always be firm, fair, and restorative, focused on helping learners understand the impact of their actions. No child should ever come to school in fear,” she said.
She said that in partnership with the nine provincial MECs for education, there was a need to “ensure that every school is a safe, nurturing and supportive place for learning”.
“We cannot and we will not allow bullying, intimidation or violence to destroy that environment under absolutely any circumstances,” she said.
She said that while the number of bullying and violent incidents had declined in general, “each act of violence remains deeply concerning”.
“[Every] case must be addressed decisively, with compassion, accountability and in accordance with the law.
“Equally, I call on our provincial education departments to give schools the necessary support to manage these cases effectively and fairly.”
To strengthen school safety, Gwarube said the Department of Basic Education (DBE) had signed a collaborative protocol with the South African Police Service.
The partnership included joint operations and unannounced searches to help keep schools drug and weapon free.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has said that school-related violence “in all its forms is an infringement of children’s and adolescents’ rights to education and their health and well-being”.
Under the theme “Screen smart: Learning to be safe in the digital era”, the DBE highlighted how often adolescents are on their phones — sharing photos and videos, playing games with people they have never met, or exchanging texts across apps. “This has created another breeding ground, although virtual, for bullying (cyberbullying),” the DBE said.
INSIDE EDUCATION
