In memory of the late Lufuno Mavhunga, a learner who took her life after a video of her being bullied by a fellow pupil in Mbilwi Secondary School emerged and was widely shared online, Soshanguve Secure Care Centre hosted an awareness programme on bullying under the theme "Bullying must stop now".
In a bid to confront the unending problem of bullying at schools, on Monday awareness on matters relating to bullying in the institution's school was raised and addressed to both learners and educators. The centre is an institution for minors who are in conflict with the law.
Head of Institution, Patricia Ramere, emphasised the importance of the awareness at the institution that admits some of the children who are bullies and others are victims of bullying. Ramere made the learners to vow to stop bullying one another.
"Bullying is not just physical; it is also emotional. Bullying is not acceptable, it is dangerous and has negative consequences", she said.
Speaking at the event, Gauteng Department of Education, Tshwane North District, representative, Busi Khumalo, said she was touched by this incident of bullying as it took her back to childhood. Khumalo is a survivor of bullying that occurred when she was still a minor.
"Bullying has been happening for many years and it's about time that something changed, let us all take a stand and stop bullying!" she said.
"Bullying does not only happen in schools; it also happens in the workplace. Society needs to stand against bullying," said Khumalo.
Khumalo added that bullies use their power to intimidate or cause harm to others, educators need to listen to learners and learners need to report all incidents of bullying.
She vowed that moving forward as Department of Education they will continue to host awareness programmes on bullying and that also is important for Social Development to continue hosting awareness campaigns on bullying as that may prevent incidents that lead to minors ending up in secure care centres.