Many of us have asked ourselves why bullying is increasing in South African schools. We’ve seen the statistics. We know how bad the situation is. Now what we need is answers.
That’s what this article is. The answer to your questions. It won’t be like the other articles on bullying in South African schools you’ve read because we’ll address everything from the causes, types, and what each of us can do about it.
Understanding Bullying in South African Schools
Bullying in South African schools has become terrifyingly prevalent. And as more teens go through this awful experience, they’re left feeling anxious, depressed, and in some cases, suicidal.
The drastic effects of bullying can be seen in the rising suicide rates in our country, especially since the majority of these suicides have been teenagers. Schools are slowly becoming an unsafe space for South African children, but why?
Why is bullying increasing in South African schools? What could be behind this rise in violence and oppression among what should be one of the most innocent age groups?
If those are your questions, then allow us to answer them.
Why Is Bullying Increasing in South African Schools?
Sadly, we can’t attribute the rise in school bullying cases in South Africa to one single cause. It would be great if we could point our finger at one thing and focus all our energy on eradicating it. But that’s a fantasy.
Bullying in South Africa is far more complicated. There are layers to unpack, sources of bias to work through, and factors to consider. The point is, there are many causes of South African school bullying.
And we’ll be analysing each one to help you understand why bullying is increasing in South African schools.
Socioeconomic Inequality and School Violence
The lives students live outside of school affect their behaviours within the school grounds. This can manifest in different ways, depending on the unique circumstances and the student’s response to them.
For example, a student from a higher socioeconomic background might bully students whom they consider “lesser”. And teens who experience a difficult home environment might act out their anger on their fellow students.
Inequality is often the breeding ground for violence and bullying, even among children. At this age, they also tend to soak up behaviours they see others exhibit. A teen who witnesses violence at home may exhibit that violence in school. This greatly contributes to the rising bullying statistics in South African schools.
The financial status of the school itself also affects the stability of the school environment. Under-resourced schools might be overcrowded and have a shortage of teachers. This makes it harder to control the students and might lead to overwhelmed teachers giving up altogether and leaving teens to their own devices.
Digital Bullying on the Rise
Tools are just tools until someone uses them to do good or evil. Social media was a tool created to build connections, but somewhere along the line it also became a tool for perpetuating bullying.
Cyberbullying, which is bullying that takes place on the internet, has become as much of a problem as physical bullying. What makes it even worse is that cyberbullying can come in several forms and can take place across various platforms.
From WhatsApp groups to TikTok comment sections to Instagram posts, anywhere on social media can be used for cyberbullying. This makes this form of bullying easy to commit.
A student can make an Instagram post about another student, accusing them of something they didn’t do. Rumours spread like wildfire and soon this student is struggling with both online and physical bullying. One post can cause serious damage.
This is why educating students on the power and danger of these platforms. We need them to be cyber savvy, not cyber bullies.
This unregulated form of bullying also requires parents to pay closer attention to their teens’ behaviour, internet usage, and look out for any signs of online bullying.
Breakdown of Discipline and School Governance
Thankfully, there are policies on bullying in South African schools. The South African Schools Act (1996) prohibits any form of bullying in public and independent schools.
There’s also The Children’s Act 38 of 2005 which protects children from abuse and bullying. It lets children report bullying cases in court. It aims to rehabilitate bullies, and not to punish them.
While there are anti-bullying policies in place, their enforcement is where the problem lies. Teachers and school administrators are responsible for maintaining a healthy environment for their students.
This is why the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 allows for schools to be held responsible for bullying cases. According to this law, if a school ignores bullying and a child is harmed due to their negligence, the school or government can be held responsible.
Peer Pressure and Toxic School Culture
It wouldn’t be a conversation about why bullying is increasing in south african schools if we didn’t talk about peer pressure.
Peer pressure is responsible for a good chunk of the bullying cases that occur in schools across the country. This dangerous culture that forces teens to conform and engage in behaviour they normally wouldn’t do has affected both academic success and school safety.
It creates a domino effect of sorts, one that hurts everyone in its path. For example, a teen goes to a party and is pressured into drinking. This leads to a battle with alcoholism which may involve them taking their anger out on fellow students.
Stories of how peer pressure has impacted South African teens are not in short supply. And we see the impact of peer pressure every day, both good and bad. Positive peer pressure leads teens to better habits and a healthier lifestyle.
While negative peer pressure promotes gang culture, reputation-based bullying, initiation rituals, “seniority” abuse, and toxic masculinity. In the end, what matters most is the type of peer pressure our teens experience and how they respond to it.
Teaching teens how to resist peer pressure becomes a necessity, not a choice.
Alarming Statistics on Bullying in South African Schools
A 2012 study by the University of South Africa (Unisa) revealed a concerning level of bullying among secondary school students in Gauteng. Of the 3,371 learners surveyed, 34.4% (1,158 students) reported being victims of bullying.
It’s also been reported that approximately 57% of South African learners have experienced bullying at least once in their lives. And over 3.2 million South African students are bullied yearly.
The statistics of bullying in South African schools aren’t just numbers. They are a reminder that our country desperately needs change. Learning institutions cannot continue to be an unsafe environment for children.
How Can We Prevent Bullying in Schools?
To prevent bullying in South African schools we’ll need all hands on deck. Parents, teachers, school administrators, community members, students, the government, all of us need to do our part in protecting the children of our country.
Role of Educators and School Leadership
- Establishing safe reporting systems
- Anti-bullying training and awareness campaigns
Policy and Government Intervention
- National anti-bullying legislation and enforcement
- Stronger monitoring by school districts or provinces
Community and Parental Involvement
- Workshops for parents
- Community leaders addressing bullying as a cultural issue
Peer Programs and Student Voices
- Peer mediators and student councils
- Social-emotional learning in the curriculum
Breaking the Cycle of Bullying in South African Schools
As we work to end bullying in South African schools, we must address the root causes of this problem. Socioeconomic inequality, a rise in cyberbullying and peer pressure all contribute to rising bullying cases.
The journey to full eradication is a long one but if we all work together, we can create a school environment where South African teens can thrive.
That is the heart of our mission at ADS. Our goal is to help South African teens live full, happy lives. If you or any teen you know is struggling with bullying in any form, then please reach out.
