Basic Education needs to implement the anti-bullying policy: Activist

Education Activist Hendrick Makaneta says the Basic Education Department needs to implement the anti-bullying policy that was introduced in 2015.

This comes after the department’s Minister, Siviwe Gwarube, revealed that over 500 cases of bullying have been reported in some schools across the country since the start of the academic year in January.

A large number of these cases have been reported in Limpopo.

In 2021, Limpopo pupil Lufuno Mavhunga took her own life after a video recording of her being assaulted by a fellow pupil went viral on social media.

The incident triggered public outcry about bullying in schools.

Makaneta says bullying in schools is a national concern.

He says, “Whereas we must applaud government for developing the anti-bullying policy in 2015, which should be cascaded into schools, we must say that the issue of implementation becomes a problem.”

Makaneta says, “Learners learn all of these things in communities. So there is a need really for government to partner with the communities to ensure that such matters are addressed. It is becoming very clear that if learners cannot manage their emotions effectively, then we’ll continue to sit with problems of this nature.”

Bullying incidents

Founder of research group, 1000 Women Trust, Tina Thiart says most incidents of bullying at schools are not reported.

Thiart says, “According to research what we have done with child welfare, 52% of children experience bullying in schools and we know there’s a huge increase in the use of technology to bully one another.”

She says, “As conducted by boys and girls in schools. We have noticed in our research that there’s a huge increase in physical bullying in schools. The knifing of young people. So, we are working with a huge number of schools, the teachers, parents, and police safety forums.”

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