Gang violence, socioeconomic ills and bullying are having a devastating effect on pupils in province.
The situation was thrust into the spotlight again recently after a video surfaced on social media depicting pupils from Hankey Senior Secondary School wielding an axe as they try to break down a door at the school.
In the one-minute clip seen by The Herald, chaos unfolds as children scream in terror.
The camera then pans to reveal pupils taking turns wildly swinging an axe, hacking at a door with ferocity and, at times, even striking the wall.
Provincial education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said they were aware of the incident which occurred on Thursday.
“We are attending to it,” he said.
“Look, our approach is to involve as many stakeholders as possible in resolving the matter.
“Internally, the school will follow the disciplinary processes.
“Roping in the multi-stakeholders is meant to address the root cause of the problem, with the community at the centre.
“Remember, this is just a mirror of what is happening in our society.
“Hence, we brought in everyone — CPF, police, civil society groups, including churches, to share these common goals of instilling coexistence and peaceful resolutions to all problems in society.”
A parent, who declined to be named, said she feared for her two children at the school.
“The recent incidents we’ve seen are terrifying.
“Seeing kids in that video swinging an axe around is just shocking.
“Schools are supposed to be safe havens for learning, but now it feels like they’re not even secure any more.”
Another parent said: “We send our kids to school trusting they’ll be protected and nurtured, not exposed to such danger, including drugs.
“It’s every parent’s worst nightmare.
“We need real action to ensure our children are safe at school, not just promises or reassurances.
“My kid deserves to feel safe and focus on learning, not fear what might happen next.”
School governing body member Marionette Lloyd said they had a parent meeting on Monday but failed to elaborate.
Federation of Governing Bodies for South African Schools deputy chief executive Riaan van der Bergh said it condemned all forms of violence on school grounds.
“Though the video shows a learner wielding an axe and hitting a door, and we are not aware of all the details and events leading up to this incident, no dangerous weapons are allowed on school property.
“We must remember that school is a segment of society and not an island.
“Incidents like this should not take place in a healthy society and we should ask ourselves why the high level of violence, destruction and lack of values exist.”
Education expert Prof Susan van Rensburg said lawlessness at schools undermined the sanctity of schools as places of learning and growth.
“The incident at Hankey Senior Secondary School is a clear indication of the challenges we face in maintaining a conducive learning environment.
“Seeing students wielding an axe and causing chaos on school grounds is alarming and highlights broader societal issues that infiltrate our educational institutions.”
Education expert Prof Jonathan Jansen said: “The recurring violence in some of our schools not only has sometimes debilitating physical effects on learners and teachers but can also leave lasting emotional and psychological scars on those witnessing these events.
“In the end, learning suffers as well as social (re)adjustment.”
Mental health advocate Candice Lambert said emotional and psychological responses were a response to the environment.
She said instances of a child using an axe and breaking a door down would have a negative impact on others involved or watching the event.
“It would trigger thoughts of near harm, death and ‘not safe’.
“If the brain is triggered by “I am not safe”, the psychological and emotional impacts on the children witnessing this event should be extreme anxiety.
“It is important you create safe environments for our children.”
In February, teachers at Cedarberg Primary School in Booysen Park were at their wits’ end as pupils allegedly ran rampant, joined gangs, threatened teachers and classmates, and hid guns and sold dagga on school grounds.
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge at the time confirmed that officers had been deployed to the school to keep an eye on the situation.
In an unrelated incident, some pupils at Woolhope Secondary in Malabar were allegedly peddling drugs to their peers on the premises for as little as R35.
This is according to several concerned parents who recently addressed letters outlining the complaints to the school.
The provincial education department at the time said it was investigating the allegations.
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