By Thapelo Molefe

Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela has appointed Dr Mugwena Maluleke as the Acting Chairperson of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Board, effective from Monday this week.

The appointment follows the resignation of Karen Stander, who stepped down after citing racism, bullying, intimidation, and safety concerns.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Department of Higher Education and Training said the appointment ensures continuity and stability as the minister proceeds with a self-review court application to regularise the board’s appointment process.

The self-review, lodged in the High Court, was initiated after legal advice indicated procedural shortcomings in how the current NSFAS board was appointed earlier this year.

The minister said the review was a proactive measure to “uphold good governance and transparency in public appointments,” and not a response to any legal challenge.

“The functioning of NSFAS is not affected by the review process. Students can be assured that services are continuing. Applications for 2026 NSFAS funding remain open until 15 November 2025. I encourage all eligible students to apply now,” Manamela said.

The department emphasised that the board remains fully functional and that its operations, including student funding disbursements and application processing, will continue without disruption.

Maluleke currently serves as Vice President of Education International and General Secretary of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU). He is also a former council member of the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) and the Human Resource Development Council.

His extensive leadership experience, both domestically and internationally, is expected to help guide NSFAS through a critical transitional phase.

The ministry said Maluleke’s leadership “will help uphold governance standards, reinforce public trust, and strengthen oversight within the institution”.

Maluleke’s appointment comes at a challenging time for NSFAS. The entity has faced months of governance instability, student protests, and public criticism over delayed payments and administrative inefficiencies.

Stander’s resignation last week added to the turmoil, coming just months after she was appointed by former minister Nobuhle Nkabane.

In her resignation letter, Stander described NSFAS as being gripped by a “toxic working environment” marked by bullying, intimidation, and racial hostility. She said these conditions had made it impossible for her to discharge her duties “effectively and in good conscience”.

Stander also warned of systemic weaknesses within NSFAS, including flawed ICT systems, poor integration between operational functions, and leadership instability that has “plagued the organisation for nearly a decade”.

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, chaired by Tebogo Letsie, expressed concern over the circumstances of her resignation, describing it as “deeply unfortunate” given the board’s recent reconstitution.

Letsie said the committee would engage both the department and remaining board members to ensure stability and accountability going forward.

Manamela, who met with Stander last week, said the ministry was taking her concerns seriously and reaffirmed his commitment to transparency and accountability within NSFAS.

“These matters warrant serious attention,” he said at the time.

“NSFAS plays a vital role in expanding access to higher education, and we must ensure that it operates in a manner that is ethical, transparent, and accountable.”

The minister has said that he will not oppose any legal action arising from the self-review process and will abide by the court’s decision.

Manamela congratulated Maluleke on his appointment and wished him success in steering the board through its transitional phase.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Levy Masiteng 

A former finance clerk was handed a three-year jail sentence, suspended for five years, for stealing R846 000 from Laerskool Akasia in Pretoria, the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) said on Monday.

The conviction was handed down on 9 June 2025, finding Lorraine Scheepers guilty of fraud and theft.

Last week, Scheepers was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, with five years’ suspension, and ordered to repay R210 000 to the school by the Pretoria North Magistrate Court.

According to the GDE, Scheepers stole approximately R846 000 in school funds between 2019 and 2021 and manipulated bank statements to conceal the theft.

The department’s Anti-Corruption Unit launched an investigation following an anonymous tip-off, uncovering the fraudulent activities.

“The GDE commends its Anti-Corruption Unit for its diligent work in ensuring accountability and reiterates its zero-tolerance stance on corruption and financial misconduct within schools,” said Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane.

The department urged all school communities to report any suspected irregularities through official GDE channels.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Thapelo Molefe

Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela has officially approved the Ministerial Statement on Student Enrolment Planning for Public Universities for the 2026–2030 academic period, setting out targets for student intake, graduation, and system growth over the next five years.

The plan, which also covers the associated funding cycle through to 2032/33, follows months of consultation between the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and all 26 public universities.

It represents the culmination of a comprehensive national planning process that included bilateral meetings, a national workshop in November 2024, and the submission of institutionally approved enrolment and graduation plans.

According to the approved targets, total university enrolments are projected to rise from 1.07 million in 2023 to 1.18 million by 2030, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 1.5. 

The intake of first-time entering undergraduates is expected to grow by 1.8% per year, alongside steady improvements in graduation rates and postgraduate output.

While welcoming these projections as a milestone for stability and predictability, Manamela warned that the current trajectory may still fall short of meeting the broader National Development Plan (NDP) targets, particularly in key fields such as science, engineering, teacher education, and scarce skills.

“This enrolment plan provides much-needed stability and predictability for our system. But we must also be honest: at the current rate, we are unlikely to meet the full scope of our NDP targets by 2030. This is not a moment to sit back, it is a call to act,” Manamela said in a statement on Monday.

The minister emphasised that the approved enrolment targets are not a final destination but rather a foundation for transformation within the post-school education and training (PSET) system.

“We are committed to a more articulated, integrated and responsive PSET system,” he said.

“This means growing our TVET and Community College enrolments, improving quality and relevance, and expanding digital, work-integrated and occupational training pathways.”

Manamela said that several initiatives are already underway to support this reconfiguration. These include the development of a Skills for Growth Compact with industry and government, a revision of universities’ Programme Qualification Mix (PQM) to better align with national priorities, and strengthened articulation pathways between TVET colleges, community colleges, and universities.

The department is also focused on expanding distance and blended learning opportunities to widen access, and is working with the Department of Basic Education to strengthen mathematics and science performance in schools, boosting the pipeline for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines in higher education.

The approved ministerial statement will now be communicated to all public universities, each of which will receive institution-specific targets and guidelines. Universities are expected to confirm their commitments through their councils and integrate the new targets into their annual performance plans.

The DHET will monitor implementation annually and remain open to adjustments based on budget changes, policy developments, and system performance, it said.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Lebone Rodah Mosima & Charmaine Ndlela

Basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube said on Monday that many pupils are failing to reach reading-fluency levels needed to read with comprehension by Grade 4.

Gwarube made the comments while launching the Funda Uphumelele National Survey (FUNS).

She said the baseline will, for the first time, measure across all 11 official languages the share of Grade 1–3 learners meeting language-specific fluency targets.

The benchmarks cover letter-sound recognition at the end of Grade 1 and oral reading fluency at the end of Grades 2 and 3, developed “language by language” over about six years, she said.

Gwarube said the results confirm “serious challenges in the early grades” but provide a clearer diagnosis of underlying skills such as phonemic awareness, vocabulary, and letter-sound association that enable comprehension.

“We are not measuring for the sake of measuring,” she said. “The value of good data: it gives us the power to act intelligently, not blindly.”

The minister said the survey emphasises home-language instruction because children “learn to read most effectively in the language they understand best,” adding that strong foundations make it easier to build bilingual proficiency, typically with English as a First Additional Language.

The department is “rolling out Mother Tongue-based Bilingual Education in Grades 4 and beyond,” she said.

According to Gwarube, the data will be used at three levels: to track progress nationally, provincially and by language; to strengthen accountability and support through district offices and school management using new, language-appropriate assessments; and in classrooms, where teachers will run diagnostic checks and target remediation.

She said the assessment instruments were developed by linguists and researchers from universities nationwide with department officials, and thanked philanthropic and multilateral partners that financed the work. “Today’s launch is not just the release of a report. It is a call to refocus our attention,” she said.

“We want all children to read with understanding by the end of Grade 3,” Gwarube said.

“When we conduct the next round of Funda Uphumelele, I am confident that we can see progress… in the daily experience of children who can now open a book and make sense of the world around them.”

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) have concluded their seven-month wage dispute, bringing an end to a protracted period of negotiations and industrial action that disrupted operations within the student funding body.

NEHAWU Western Cape Provincial Secretary Baxolise Mali praised the “resilience and discipline” of union members who “maintained solidarity” throughout the negotiations.

“NEHAWU as a red fighting militant union, appreciates the loyalty, and patience of our members during these protracted negotiations. As NEHAWU, we will continue without flinching in championing the interests of our members and workers at all materials,” he said.

The settlement provides for a 7 percent across-the-board salary adjustment for all employees within the NSFAS Bargaining Unit, covering levels three to twelve, with the increase backdated to April 1, 2025.

Workers will also benefit from a substantial rise in the housing allowance, which has been increased by 83.3 percent from R1,200 to R2,200. Of this amount, R1,793 will take effect from April 2025, while the remaining R227 will be implemented in April 2026.

In addition, the agreement introduces once-off long service awards, recognising employees’ dedication and years of service with payments ranging from R5,000 for five years of service to R30,000 for thirty years.

While these improvements address some of the most pressing demands, both parties agreed that several other matters would require ongoing engagement through established forums.

Issues such as the staff dependent bursary policy, early retirement options, hybrid working arrangements, the recognition threshold for new unions, further consultations on decentralisation, and the implementation timeline for job evaluation outcomes will continue to be discussed within the National Bargaining Forum and the National Consultative Forum.

Both NSFAS and NEHAWU agreed that by resolving the long-standing dispute, not only were immediate employee grievances addressed, but also set the stage for more constructive dialogue in the future.

In an official statement, NSFAS acknowledged that the bargaining process had been lengthy and, at times, difficult, but said that the discussions helped clarify expectations between management and staff.

NSFAS said that the successful resolution of the dispute now allows all parties to concentrate on bringing the 2025 academic year to a smooth conclusion and preparing for an efficient start to 2026.

“NSFAS workers are a core part of the organisation’s delivery machinery. They are at the coal face of student funding processing applications, appeals, managing cases and disbursements and providing a service to Higher Education Institutions,” the organisation said.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

South Africa’s U-17 national football team, Amajimbos, made history on Sunday by qualifying for the knockout stages of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup for the first time, despite a 3-1 defeat to European champions Italy at the Aspire Academy complex in Al Rayyan, Qatar.

The young South Africans finished second in Group A with four points from a win, a draw, and a loss, thanks to a goalless draw between hosts Qatar and Bolivia in the group’s other fixture.

“This result shows that South African football is moving in the right direction. Our boys gave everything against a top European side. The experience will serve them well as we prepare for the knockout stages. We respect every opponent, but we fear none,” coach Vela Khumalo said after the match.

Italy topped the group with a perfect nine points, while Qatar and Bolivia exited the tournament with two and zero points respectively.

The match started at a frenetic pace, with Italy, the reigning European U-17 champions, asserting themselves immediately.

South Africa’s defensive shape was tested early, and within four minutes, Borussia Dortmund prodigy Samuele Inacio struck the opener.

A precise through ball from Valerio Maccaroni found Inacio in space on the right, and the winger’s low drive beat goalkeeper Solethu Radebe at his near post.

Italy looked dominant, creating a string of chances through their front three of Inacio, Antonio Arena, and Simone Lontani.

AC Milan’s Lontani came close to doubling the lead in the 20th minute, only for Radebe to pull off a sharp stop.

Amajimbos gradually found their rhythm and began to show more ambition going forward, being rewarded in the 32nd minute when Emile Witbooi, one of the tournament’s most exciting attackers, earned a free-kick near the touchline.

Taking it quickly, Witbooi picked out Kamohelo Maraletse bursting down the flank; his shot cannoned off the post, but Shaun Els of Kaizer Chiefs reacted quickest to slot home the rebound and level the game at 1-1.

That goal lifted Vela Khumalo’s young charges, who defended bravely to keep the Italians at bay until halftime.

Italy coach Massimiliano Favo, visibly frustrated by his team’s lack of sharpness, reorganised his side during the interval, with the adjustment working almost immediately.

Ten minutes into the second half, a pinpoint Maccaroni corner found Antonio Arena, the AS Roma forward, who rose above the South African defence to head home and restore Italy’s lead.

Barely three minutes later, Italy delivered another devastating blow.

Substitute Destiny Elimoghale surged down the left wing, exchanged passes with Arena, who then squared the ball to Inacio for a composed finish and his second goal of the match.

Despite the 3-1 scoreline, Khumalo’s side showed determination and tactical discipline against one of Europe’s finest youth teams.

For South Africa, the result was secondary to the achievement.

The draw between Qatar and Bolivia confirmed Amajimbos’ progression to the Round of 32, marking the first time a South African U-17 side has advanced beyond the group phase at a FIFA World Cup.

Their qualification adds to a growing wave of optimism surrounding South African football, with the country’s youth and senior teams showing marked improvement across age levels.

The U-20 side, Amajita, reached the last 16 at their World Cup in Chile last month, while Bafana Bafana secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup; their first appearance since 2002.

The 2025 edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup marks a new era for the competition, featuring 48 teams for the first time, up from 24 in previous tournaments.

The expansion has allowed more African teams to showcase their talent, with South Africa, Senegal, and Zambia all advancing to the knockout rounds.

Morocco, meanwhile, remains in contention following a record-breaking 16-0 victory over New Caledonia.

For Amajimbos, qualification is a landmark achievement that reflects the resilience and potential of a new generation of South African footballers.

Their next challenge will come in the Round of 32, where they will face one of the tournament’s group winners.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Lebone Rodah Mosima

Cape Town-based Biovac has launched a new Product Development Laboratory in collaboration with South Africa’s Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, marking what the company called a milestone for Africa’s vaccine self-sufficiency and health security.

Biovac CEO Morena Makhoana and company representatives told Inside Education the facility advances the country’s vision to become a continental leader in vaccine research, development and manufacturing.

Founded in 2003 as a public-private partnership with the South African government, Biovac develops, manufactures and “fill-and-finishes” vaccines for South Africa and other African markets.

The laboratory was designed to ensure Africa possesses the tools, expertise and capacity to develop high-quality vaccines and respond rapidly to future outbreaks and pandemics, Makhoana said.

The facility has developed three technology platforms – mRNA, bacterial and cell culture — enabling Biovac to pursue vaccine projects across multiple fronts.

“Biovac is evaluating project opportunities on all three platforms to ensure sustainable vaccine development for Africa, prioritising the development of vaccines for diseases with significant public health impact in Africa, such as the Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV),” the company said.

“The end-to-end capability (including R&D) being built will enable future expansion to other high-burden diseases.”

Biovac plans to build on the momentum of mRNA gained during the COVID-19 pandemic by applying the technology to Africa’s major viral threats, including TB, RSV and HIV. While it called mRNA a key tool against the continent’s disease burden, the company added that vaccine development is multifaceted and no single approach is sufficient, so it is broadening its technology stack to deliver durable, locally suited solutions.

The company has developed strong collaborations with South African universities, research institutions, and global health partners.

The new lab will strengthen these partnerships, said Biovac, providing a “collaborative engagement with key institutes and enable growth of the bio-economy”.

“Furthermore, the facility can also be used to work closely with these institutes to foster local talent and providing opportunities for training and development of an African workforce that can meaningfully contribute to critical skills in South Africa and even beyond our borders.”

Through partnerships with UvuBio, SAMRC, and DSTI’s National Research Foundation (NRF), Biovac offers internships and graduate placements for young researchers, providing exposure to multiple vaccine platforms, including mRNA. It said that many these trainees have transitioned into permanent roles within Biovac or the broader biotech industry.

Biovac said that the Gates Foundation’s confidence in its work – and its 10 year collaboration – were pivotal in its ability to deliver on large-scale initiatives.

“DSTI’s commitment to science and innovation has demonstrated to our partners that the South African government stands firmly behind initiatives like this.”

The company plans to significantly expand its manufacturing footprint, aiming to manufacture at least five products for export within the next five years and to double its manufacturing capacity and workforce by 2030.

“We will do our best to retain our current skills as well as attracting new local skills into employment, through the meaningful work and world-renowned skills development exposure on offer through the scientific and manufacturing projects that we currently have in our stable, as well as new projects we are planning”, the company said.

The laboratory has been positioned within Africa’s growing pandemic-preparedness network, meaning it will act as a regional backbone for rapid vaccine response.

Biovac will be able to design, test, and produce outbreak vaccines quickly, to strengthen supply-chain resilience and regional readiness, through its mRNA and other vaccine platforms. “Unlike during the COVID-19 pandemic, Africa is now building the capabilities needed to take care of its own health needs.”

Environmental sustainability is also a priority, the facility said, citing energy-efficient designs, water recycling and secure bio-waste management systems. Biovac said that local vaccine production will reduce emissions associated with long-distance logistics, contributing to a lower-carbon, more resilient African health supply chain.

Biovac plans to create over 400 new jobs in the next five years, growing its workforce from 320 to more than 740 employees.

“Our Science & Innovation department typically employee up to five graduates per year, for a period of 6 to 12 months, and these graduates will participate in the current, as well as the new product development lab activities, so to grow their experience across multiple technology platforms, including mRNA.”

DSTI Deputy Minister Nomalungelo Gina called the lab a “milestone” for South Africa.

“This high-tech facility, equipped with advanced mRNA technology and state-of-the-art research capacity, will empower scientists to tackle the most prevalent diseases in Africa, ensuring that home grown innovation addresses the health needs of the citizens.”

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Charmaine Ndlela and Lebone Rodah Mosima 

Anti-illegal immigration group Operation Dudula has said it will be visiting public schools this week to check that undocumented foreign learners are not accessing South Africa’s public education system, despite a court interdict barring it from intimidating or harassing suspected non-citizens.

The group, which in August registered as a political party ahead of next year’s local government elections, is continuing its campaign despite the Johannesburg High Court ruling last week by Judge Leicester Adams that prohibits Operation Dudula and its leaders from “taking the law into their own hands”.

According to Adams’s judgment, this includes demanding identity documents from members of the public to check their nationality, and from making public statements on social media that constitute hate speech.

The Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA) has said it condemns Dudula’s plans, which are in direct contravention of Adams’s ruling.

“CoRMSA strongly condemns any form of intimidation, harassment, or discrimination directed at children, parents, or educators based on nationality or migration status,” the group said in a statement.

“These threats directly contravene the recent Gauteng High Court interdict of 04 November 2025, which declared Operation Dudula’s activities unlawful and unconstitutional.”

CoRMSA said the judgment makes it clear that no private group has the “authority to enforce immigration laws or interfere with public institutions such as schools,” adding that education is a basic constitutional right which guarantees immediately realisable access to basic education for everyone.

Attempts to deny or disrupt schooling undermined the country’s commitment to human rights and equality, it said.

CoRMSA Executive Director Thifulufheli Sinthumule urged law enforcement and education authorities to act decisively to “prevent any unlawful occupation or disruption of schools”.

The group said it was closely monitoring Operation Dudula’s actions and “their adherence to the court judgment, and will continue to advocate for accountability and the protection of all learners”.  

CoRMSA said South Africans should reject hate, vigilantism, and division and “build a society rooted in dignity, inclusion, and respect for human rights”.

Operation Dudula leader Zandile Dabula has said that the group would continue its campaign.

“We are free to protect South African resources,” she said. “The court does not stop our intended operations at schools — now this means on Monday…we will be at schools.”

In a statement, Operation Dudula said it had written over 100 memorandums in the last four years to the Presidency, Department of Home Affairs, Department of Labour and Employment, South African Police Service, municipalities, and other state institutions calling for the enforcement of applicable legislation.

“We call on the state to do its job to arrest and deport all illegal foreigners to defend the interests of South African citizens, which are under serious threat,” it said.

The group also said it was dedicated to upholding the rule of law and operating within South Africa’s constitutional duties to protect national sovereignty, uphold social justice, and guarantee fair distribution of limited resources to citizens.  

Operation Dudula previously told Inside Education it planned to enforce the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act admission requirements in 2026 by continuing to deliver “letters of demand” to schools upon reopening after the summer break. However, it also said it would not be disrupting matric exams.

The letters – which the group started delivering to some schools last month already — outlined the Act’s new foreign nationals admission requirements.

In the letters, Operation Dudula said of the Act that where both parents are foreign nationals holding either permanent residence permits or temporary residence visas, required documents include the learner’s foreign issued birth certificate, the learner’s passport, a study visa or permanent residence permit issued to the learner, the parents’ passports, and the parents’ temporary residence visas or permanent residence permits.

Operation Dudula said in the letters that no undocumented foreign learner should be admitted to schools, adding that such a learner was an illegal immigrant and “should be arrested, put into protective custody, and deported with their parents in terms of section 49 of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002”.

“We also bring to your attention the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, Act 7 of 2013, a law that criminalises the harbouring of trafficked children,” the letter read, warning that admitting such children would make school principals complicit in human trafficking.

It said in the letter that school principals violating the Act and regulations “will have criminal charges opened against them, be arrested, and be handed to the South African Police Services”.

“We therefore demand that you immediately deregister and remove any child who is an undocumented illegal foreigner from school,” the letter read. Undocumented South African learners must be “assisted by the school principal in obtaining documentation before school resumes,” it said.

Operation Dudula has been active in townships and urban centres since the July riots of 2021, organising marches and public campaigns about the alleged effects of undocumented migration on jobs, public services, and community safety. It shifted focus to the education sector starting with schools in Soweto on September 22.

The Department of Education has warned the group not to interfere with the education calendar by removing undocumented learners, saying: “The responsibility for law and order in the country rests with the South African Police Services.”

South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) spokesperson Nomusa Cembi told Inside Education the union respects the country’s laws and constitution. “We therefore do not support actions that undermine or disregard the laws and the constitution of South Africa.”

“Some of the actions of Dudula disregard our laws and the constitution and we do not support such conduct,” said Cembe.

Speaking to Inside Education about the possible implications of Operation Dudula’s actions, Soweto-based Kwa-Mahlobo Secondary School Vice Principal Takane Mnisi said the planned interruptions are thus far “hearsay” on social media.

“We are waiting for the Minister of Education to say something on this matter, then we will start taking action; for now everything is normal. We request documents from parents; if they don’t have them, we don’t chase learners away. It is against the constitution of the country,” she said.

INSIDE EDUCATION

Marcus Moloko

To restore stability at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), Minister of Higher Education Buti Manamela is expected to appoint a new chairperson to the NSFAS board on Monday.

This follows the recent resignation of Dr Karen Stander, who previously held the position.

The minister has initiated a self-review application in the High Court to regulate certain procedural shortcomings in the appointment process, which stemmed from legal advice received from the Department of Higher Education and Training.

The review aims to ensure that all governance and legal requirements were met during the NSFAS board’s formation.

According to their statement: “The Minister is committed to transparency and accountability in public appointments,” emphasizing that the review was not an act of opposition to any legal challenge but rather a proactive step to uphold good governance.

“Importantly. The board remains in place and will continue to fulfil its duties until the court sets the decision aside. The functioning and structure of NSFAS will not be affected by this application, and student servicing will continue without disruption.”

The Minister has also indicated that he will not oppose any legal action brought by affected individuals and will abide by the court’s decision.

Stander’s resignation has created a leadership vacuum at a time when NSFAS is under intense scrutiny over its operational and financial management. The appointment of a new chairperson is expected to signal a fresh chapter for the board, with renewed focus on compliance, oversight, and student-centered service delivery.

INSIDE EDUCATION

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