The Minister of Basic Education, Ms. Siviwe Gwarube, is CONCERNED about violence as well as bullies harassing other students in schools.
Ms Gwarube said these things are obstacles to education and are not a joke as they should not be considered as a tradition in schools.
“These incidents damage the mind and lower the self-confidence of students. It is not a game to provoke other students in schools because it has a negative impact. In some cases, a dead body ends up coming out. Students should not be afraid to go to schools as they must be safe,” he said while speaking at a conference of student councils in Johannesburg.
He said the current students are facing various things including the hatred that happens on social media, unemployment and uncertainty about the future, gang war, violence against women and other challenges.
“The student council in the school, is the one who knows everything that happens in the school. It is the one who sees things that even the teachers have not seen. That is why these councils are important in schools to make a difference. We fight against violence in schools by working with the police to make schools safe,” continued Ms Gwarube.
He said it is important to fight the scourge of drugs in schools.
“I want to urge you to go back to your schools and identify the students who are being abused. We need strong leadership in our schools as we need people who will not give in to addiction easily.”
He also pointed out that young people are needed to protect people as there are more marches against illegal immigrants.
“Let’s protect the people even if it is said that we don’t speak the same language. We know the incidents of 2008, and what they are doing in this country to destroy the people who have escaped. I am concerned about the violence against immigrants.”
The Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Mr. Mosotho Moepya, urged the students to turn up and vote.
“If you don’t vote, you don’t vote for the government, you vote for yourself. That’s why it’s important that you get up and vote. The research we’ve done shows that young people don’t have the motivation to participate in voting. They complain that they don’t see their vote making a difference because of the high level of unemployment,” he said.
He pointed out that there are many young people who have not registered to vote in this country since they have been allowed to do this for years.