{"id":34749,"date":"2025-11-12T20:45:32","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T18:45:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/?p=34749"},"modified":"2025-11-12T20:45:32","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T18:45:32","slug":"anti-bullying-week-activists-call-for-tougher-measures-against-bullying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/2025\/11\/12\/anti-bullying-week-activists-call-for-tougher-measures-against-bullying\/","title":{"rendered":"Anti-Bullying Week | Activists call for tougher measures against bullying"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Image
Photo credit: The Kasi-Boy, Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As South Africa marks Anti-Bullying Week<\/a>, education experts and civil society organisations have warned that government efforts to curb bullying remain inadequate – citing poor enforcement, limited psychosocial support systems, and the surge of cyberbullying cases.<\/p>\n

This comes amid a series of shocking disturbing incidents that have shocked the nation, including the recent violent assault at Milnerton High School<\/a> in Cape Town.<\/p>\n

In another tragedy, Grade 10 learner Lerato Mochadibane from Vanderbijlpark died by suicide last week after allegedly enduring years of bullying.<\/p>\n

The El-Shaddai Secondary School pupil reportedly ingested poison and later passed away.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photo credit: Supplied<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Education advocacy group Equal Education (EE) has condemned all forms of bullying and school violence – including learner-to-learner, teacher-to-learner, physical, and cyber abuse – and has urged the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to strengthen its efforts to create safer learning environments.<\/p>\n

EE spokesperson, Makanatsa Ziyambi, said current interventions often focus only on punishing bullies, without addressing the underlying causes of the problem.<\/p>\n

The organisation has called for greater psychosocial support, training for teachers and parents, and safe reporting systems in schools.<\/p>\n

“This Anti-Bullying Week, we call on the Department of Basic Education to do more to ensure that all learners are safe \u2014 whether from their peers, teachers, or anyone in the school environment,” said Ziyambi.<\/p>\n\t

\n\t\t