​The recent loss of life of a grade 10 learner at Geluksdal Secondary School in Ekurhuleni, who was fatally stabbed to death by an alleged bully during a fight after schooling hours, has raised concerns about school safety in Gauteng.
This and many other reported cases have placed Ekurhuleni schools as one of the violent and gangster ridden schools.

To curb this, the Gauteng Department of Social Development in partnership with its sister department of Education hosted a three-day build-up session to address the prevention of gangsterism and bullying in schools.

The session was supported by the South African Police Service (SAPS), Department of Justice and Correctional Services, NICRO, Geluksdal and Tsakane Child Welfare, and secure care centres run by the Department.

Addressing parents and learners at Apostolic Faith Mission Church in Kwa-Thema on Thursday, Social Work Policy Manager dealing with Social Crime Prevention at the Gauteng Department of Social Development, Veronica Sihawu, said the Department organised the session following incidents of bullying, where school children were killing each other.

“The Department developed an Anti-Gangsterism Strategy which requires us to work as a collective with other departments and non-profit organisations. It says we must bring a basket of services to communities to curb bullying and gangsterism in schools,” said Sihawu.

She added that Ekurhuleni schools have been rated as one with high incidents of gangsters, bullies and learners taking their own lives.

Sergeant Manaka from Duduza SAPS spoke on behalf of law enforcement and reiterated that both girls and boys suffer from incidents of bullying.

“Preventing bullying is not only the responsibility of our learners and teachers, but parents as well. So, we must work collectively, as it takes a village to raise a child,” said Manaka.

A learner from Phulong Secondary School in Kwa-Thema, Nhlelo Mashiyane said bullying occurs in many ways.

“Some of us bully others not being aware that we are bullying. For example, calling names to a fellow scholar and teasing them jokingly. They often take it seriously and end up not being able to concentrate at school,” he said.

Another learner from Alrapark Secondary School, Bonginkosi Mnoni, who is a member of a gang added that he often insults other learners knowing they won’t be able to retaliate.

This engagement has revealed that most of these learners bully others because of peer pressure, difficulties at home, some were victims before, and others solely doing it for attention.