Violence In South African Schools Continues To Threaten Learners And Teachers

Violence in South African schools remains a serious national concern, with incidents ranging from bullying and assaults to stabbings, robberies, sexual violence and murders being reported across several provinces. Learners and teachers continue to face safety risks inside school grounds, while education authorities, police and community organisations attempt to address the growing problem.

Recent figures released by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) showed that hundreds of bullying incidents were reported within the first weeks of the 2025 academic year. Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube confirmed that 548 bullying cases had already been reported nationwide shortly after schools reopened in January 2025. Limpopo recorded the highest number of reported cases, followed by North West and the Eastern Cape.

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education also raised concerns that bullying in schools remains poorly managed and inconsistently reported. According to the committee, many learners do not report incidents because they believe no action will be taken. Officials warned that weak disciplinary systems and inadequate anti-bullying measures contribute to fear, absenteeism and school dropouts. The Eastern Cape Department of Education reported that more than 3,400 learners were affected by bullying incidents during the 2025/26 reporting period, including 140 incidents in the first quarter alone.

Violent attacks involving weapons have also become increasingly common in some schools. In October 2025, the Gauteng Department of Education confirmed that a Grade 9 learner was stabbed at Boksburg High School after a group of boys allegedly entered the school premises and attacked him. Eight suspects were reportedly arrested following the incident. Trauma counselling was later provided to learners and educators affected by the attack.

In another reported incident linked to school violence, three learners were allegedly stabbed during violent clashes at Centenary Secondary School in early 2025. Reports indicated that police and security personnel responded to unrest at the school while tensions among learners escalated.

School violence has also affected educators directly. In the Western Cape, the Western Cape Education Department confirmed that 96 teachers were assaulted by learners between January and November 2025. One of the incidents involved a learner allegedly pointing what appeared to be a firearm at a teacher inside a classroom and pulling the trigger multiple times before it was discovered to be a replica weapon. The teacher reportedly later sought psychological treatment due to anxiety following the incident.

National crime statistics have further highlighted the scale of violence affecting schools. During the 2023/2024 financial year, 28 murders were recorded within South African basic education institutions. Nearly half of those killings occurred in KwaZulu-Natal. Authorities also reported that many of the violent crimes involved learner-on-learner attacks. In the same reporting period, thousands of burglaries were reported at schools across the country.

Education officials and safety organisations have repeatedly warned that violence inside schools disrupts learning and creates long-term psychological harm for both learners and educators. Research examining violence and bullying in schools found that repeated exposure to intimidation, assaults and vandalism creates environments of fear and mistrust. Studies also linked bullying to anxiety, depression, poor academic performance, trauma and social withdrawal among learners.

Teachers and school staff have similarly reported feeling unsafe in some learning environments. Reports from education departments and school safety programmes indicate that some educators face verbal abuse, threats and physical attacks while attempting to maintain discipline in overcrowded or under-resourced schools.

Authorities have introduced several measures aimed at reducing violence in schools. The Department of Basic Education continues to implement the National School Safety Framework, which encourages schools to establish safety committees involving educators, police officers, parents and community stakeholders. School-based crime prevention campaigns targeting bullying, gangsterism, drug abuse and weapon possession have also been introduced in partnership with the South African Police Service.

Police operations conducted at schools have uncovered dangerous weapons and illegal substances in the possession of learners. In one operation in 2026, officers seized knives, drugs, cigarettes, balaclavas and other prohibited items during a raid at a school in the Free State.

Religious organisations, education groups and child protection advocates have increasingly described the violence affecting schools as a national crisis. The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the National Catholic Board of Education warned in 2025 that growing violence in schools reflects a wider pattern of societal violence affecting children and educators across South Africa.

Despite ongoing interventions, incidents of bullying, assaults, stabbings and violent intimidation continue to be reported at schools across the country, raising concerns about the safety of learners and teachers inside South Africa’s education system.

WATCH – Man Shot Dead Inside Table View Café in Suspected Targeted Attack

A 33-year-old man was shot and killed inside a café at Marine Circle in Table View, Cape Town, on Monday afternoon in what police believe may have been a targeted attack.

According to Western Cape police, the shooting took place shortly after 14:00 on 25 May 2026 at a restaurant in the Marine Circle precinct. Officers from Table View SAPS responded to reports of gunfire and, on arrival, found the victim lying on his stomach with multiple gunshot wounds inside the establishment. Medical personnel declared him dead at the scene.

Witnesses told media outlets that two armed suspects entered the café and opened fire on the victim before fleeing. Several reports stated that approximately six shots were fired during the attack. Witnesses also alleged that the suspects took the victim’s cellphone and laptop before escaping from the scene.

Police have confirmed that a murder case has been opened and that no arrests had been made by Tuesday. Investigators have not yet established a motive for the killing.

Management linked to the Marine Circle precinct reportedly indicated that the incident appeared to be directed at a specific individual and that no staff members, patrons or bystanders were injured during the shooting.

Some witnesses claimed the victim was a regular customer at the restaurant. One eyewitness said the gunmen entered the café, fired several shots at the man and then fled shortly afterwards. Another report stated that the victim’s wife was seated with him at the time of the attack and was not physically injured.

The incident caused panic in the busy beachfront area, with police vehicles, forensic investigators and emergency medical personnel responding to the scene soon after the shooting. Images published by local media showed a large police presence outside the restaurant as investigators processed the crime scene.

Western Cape police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the killing. Police have appealed to anyone with information about the shooting or the suspects involved to contact the investigating officer or provide anonymous information through Crime Stop or the MySAPS mobile application.

Targeted shootings have become a recurring feature in several parts of South Africa, particularly in major urban centres such as Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and parts of Mpumalanga. In many cases, victims are attacked in public places including restaurants, shopping centres, roadsides, taverns and fuel stations.

Law enforcement agencies have previously linked some targeted killings to organised crime, extortion networks, gang violence, taxi industry disputes, business rivalries and personal disputes. Authorities have also noted that many attacks are carried out by multiple suspects using firearms and getaway vehicles, often during daylight hours.

The Western Cape has experienced a number of high-profile shootings in recent years, with incidents frequently reported in areas including Cape Town’s northern and southern suburbs as well as communities affected by gang activity on the Cape Flats. Police statistics released annually by the South African Police Service continue to show high levels of violent crime across the province.

Security experts and policing analysts have previously stated that targeted attacks are often carefully planned, with suspects monitoring victims before carrying out shootings. Investigations into these cases commonly involve the analysis of cellphone records, surveillance footage, ballistic evidence and witness statements.

The use of hit-style killings in public spaces has also raised concerns among residents and business owners about safety in commercial and entertainment areas. In several previous incidents across South Africa, innocent bystanders have been injured or killed when shootings occurred in crowded locations.

Police investigations into targeted murders can take months or years to conclude, depending on the availability of witnesses, forensic evidence and intelligence information. Some cases result in arrests shortly after incidents occur, while others remain unsolved.

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Authorities have repeatedly urged members of the public to report information related to violent crimes anonymously through official police channels as part of efforts to combat organised criminal activity and firearm-related violence across the country.

WATCH – Eight-Year-Old Boy Survives Limpopo Crash With Minor Injuries

An eight-year-old boy from Limpopo survived a serious motor vehicle collision with only minor injuries after he became trapped against a pole during the crash.

According to reports shared by Caxton Netwerk-Nuus, the child was pinned against a pole during the impact in what was described as a severe collision. Emergency responders attended the scene and assisted in rescuing the boy.

Despite the severity of the accident, the boy reportedly escaped with minor injuries. Images and footage from the scene showed significant damage following the collision.

The incident drew widespread attention on social media after several Caxton-affiliated news pages shared details of the crash. The reports indicated that the child survived the ordeal despite being trapped during the collision.

No further official information regarding the exact cause of the crash, the number of vehicles involved, or whether any other injuries were sustained had been confirmed in the available reports at the time of publication.

OTHER NEWS

Mbeki Claims Apartheid-Era Agents Contributed to ANC’s Decline

Former President Thabo Mbeki has alleged that apartheid-era agents infiltrated the African National Congress (ANC) and contributed to the governing party’s long-term decline.

Mbeki made the remarks during recent public discussions about the state of the ANC and South Africa’s political landscape. He claimed that individuals linked to the apartheid security establishment managed to enter the liberation movement during the struggle years and later became part of the democratic government and broader political structures.

According to Mbeki, concerns about infiltration were raised years ago during submissions made to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). He said the ANC had previously warned that apartheid intelligence operatives had penetrated the organisation, but the issue was never fully addressed.

The former president argued that the ANC’s internal deterioration accelerated after the party’s 2007 Polokwane conference, where major leadership changes reshaped the organisation. He stated that the ANC had made significant progress during its early years in government, but later became increasingly affected by internal divisions, governance failures and factional battles.

Mbeki also suggested that some apartheid-era networks were never completely dismantled after the end of white minority rule in 1994. He alleged that remnants of those structures continued operating within South Africa’s political and security environment after the democratic transition.

During his remarks, Mbeki linked recent political instability to what he described as ongoing efforts to weaken the ANC. He referenced the July 2021 unrest and the rise of the MK Party as developments that he believes reflect deeper political forces operating within the country.

The comments have generated political debate across South Africa. Critics have argued that the ANC’s decline is primarily the result of corruption, poor governance and internal factionalism within the party itself. Others have pointed to historical evidence showing that apartheid security agencies infiltrated liberation organisations during the struggle years.

Mbeki’s remarks come as the ANC continues to face growing political pressure following a significant decline in electoral support. In the 2024 general election, the party lost its outright national majority for the first time since taking power in 1994, forcing it into coalition arrangements to remain in government.

Kidnapping Suspects Arrested Following Multi-Agency Operation in Gauteng

Two suspects linked to the kidnapping of a businessman in Mpumalanga have been arrested following a coordinated intelligence-driven operation involving private security companies and multiple law enforcement agencies.

The businessman was allegedly kidnapped approximately six weeks ago in the Nelspruit area by heavily armed suspects travelling in three vehicles. According to information released about the operation, the suspects were reportedly armed with high-caliber firearms, including AK-47 rifles and pistols.

Investigators from several units continued with extensive investigations and intelligence gathering following the kidnapping. The operation involved members from CPS Security, the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), EMPD CLU, EMPD SWAT, the Mpumalanga Anti-Hijacking Unit and Crime Intelligence.

Authorities later acted on information regarding the whereabouts of the suspects. The first suspect was arrested in the Brackendowns area in Gauteng during the joint operation.

Further intelligence reportedly led investigators to a second suspect in Pretoria. Information was circulated to Pretoria Central SAPS, leading to the arrest of the second suspect in the area.

During the operation, officials also seized two vehicles allegedly used in the commission of the kidnapping. One firearm was also recovered.

The suspects are currently undergoing further questioning while investigations into the case continue. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the suspects or confirmed whether additional arrests are expected.

The operation has been described as a significant breakthrough in the kidnapping investigation and highlighted ongoing cooperation between private security companies and law enforcement agencies in combating organised crime.