The government has expressed concern at the rising learner-on-learner violence across South Africa.
Several such incidents have been reported in recent months, including cases where lives were lost.
Just this year, a 16-year-old boy was caught pointing a toy gun at a fellow learner at the Wozanibone Secondary School in the east of Pretoria.
“It is alleged that a 16-year-old boy pointed his gun at a grade 8 learner who was on her way to attend a school health awareness campaign conducted by Welbekend police,” said police spokesperson Sergeant Tsietsi Lamola.
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Lamola said the police were informed and disarmed the learner.
Another incident last month led to three learners and a former learner from a Sunnyside high school being arrested for robbing a school mate.
The four allegedly took a cellphone and pocket money from the 14-year-old learner, said Sunnyside police spokesperson Captain Daniel Mavimbela.
The four were arrested after the police worked in collaboration with the school and the victim’s guardian.
“The victim had reportedly been accosted by the suspects while walking home from school on Tuesday afternoon,” said Mavimbela.
He said the boy claimed he was threatened with violence before he reportedly surrendered his cellphone and cash.
“Two suspects, both 16, were released into the custody of their guardians while the pair of 19-year-olds remained in police custody.”
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Department of social development spokesperson Lumka Oliphant said school violence affected society.
Her comments coincided with the commemoration of the annual child protection week campaign, currently underway in South Africa.
Oliphant said the incident that took place at Forest Hill High School in which a schoolboy was stabbed to death, highlighted the need for key sectors around the country to work together to build a more protective environment for children, starting at family and community levels.
“The incident also highlights the need for parents and caregivers to check and follow up on their children’s educational progress, discipline as well as the nature of their children’s reaction to discipline and respect towards teachers and fellow learners.”
She said action was needed across a number of fronts to ensure the safety and well-being of children in South Africa.
“The protection and care of children is not the sole responsibility of government but other stakeholders including parents, faith-based organisations, civil society and the media to play their part in the protection of children.”
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Oliphant said the department provided care and reintegration services for children in conflict with the law.
She said the department had established child and youth care centres which were used to accommodate children in conflict with the law, those who were awaiting trial or sentencing, or sentenced children in terms of the child justice act.
“As part of implementing both the children’s act and the child justice act, the department has developed a policy framework on the accreditation of diversion programmes and service providers which seek to give child offenders a second chance by preventing them from having a criminal record and to address the root causes for criminal behaviour.”
Oliphant said currently, the department had 31 secure care centres with a bed space of 2 296 across all nine provinces.
“As of the end of March this year, 23 918 child offenders were assessed, 10 515 diverted and 3 039 placed under home-based supervision. The department has also developed an anti-gangsterism strategy which is multi-sectorial in nature and contributes towards crime prevention.”
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