Let’s unite against school violence

WE AS the Anglican Diocese of Natal, guided by our vision of “loving communities”, are greatly vexed and horrified by the incidents of violence, and threats of violence, at schools and places of learning and teaching.

We condemn, in the strongest sense, all aspects of violence in our schools and places of learning and teaching, and in doing so, we condemn the rising levels of violence in society, which are now playing out in our children.

We call on school heads, educators, school governing bodies, the Department of Education, teacher unions and associations, law enforcement agencies, religious, traditional and community leaders and all parents to take responsibility for this disease, and work towards its speedy eradication.

From cyber bullying to bullying, and harassment to rape and murder in the classroom, this is our problem. And it is up to us to change it.

Sexual violence is the silent partner of general school violence because victims often do not report it for fear of victimisation.

According to the United Nations report, South Africa has one of the highest rates of sexual harassment and rape in schools. Violence and sexual violence have become the norm.

A culture of impunity has set in, fuelled by crucial gaps in accountability within and between the legal, criminal justice and education systems.

It has been allowed to fester because of our silence as churches and citizens.

We call on all stakeholders to come together to analyse these accountability gaps, together with survivors and their families who are willing to speak out and teach us what is needed.

We commit ourselves also to be part of such a process.

We further need to put in place systems in all our sectors that model a zero tolerance approach to all forms of violence, and demonstrate to our young people, especially our young women, that their safety, dignity and their futures are our priority.

What is happening in schools is a symptom of what is happening everywhere. We can no longer shift the blame.

Let us join together to be part of “loving communities” where we are.