Silenced in the Classroom: The Urgent Need to Confront Gender-Based Violence in South African Schools
Written by: Malebo Ntjana
Currently in South Africa, we are observing Child Protection Week, a critical period that calls for reflection on the safety and well-being of our children. It is therefore imperative that we turn our attention to the very spaces designed to empower and educate South African learners. These spaces must not only nurture academic growth but also serve as safe, supportive environments where every child is protected , heard and affirmed. The spaces meant to empower and educate South African learners, are the same spaces that they are often met with fear, trauma and in some instances, silence. School related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) is a growing trend in our country, yet it remains dangerously misunderstood and underreported .
Section 28(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, affirms that a child’s best interests are of paramount importance. However, millions of children in South Africa continue to be affected by school related gender based violence. School Related Gender- Based Violence (SRGBV) can be defined as threats or acts of sexual, physical or psychological violence occurring in and around schools, carried out because of gender stereotypes and norms enforced by unequal power dynamics. School-Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) is a widespread but often hidden issue affecting learners across South Africa. It includes rape, sexual harassment, corporal punishment, bullying, and other forms of violence based on gender norms and stereotypes. These violations compromise learners’ right to quality, safe, and inclusive education particularly for girls, learners with disabilities, Queer learners and those from rural areas. These cases are often silenced due to stigma, fear of retaliation, lack of reporting mechanisms, or systemic failure such as weak legal and policy implementation.
South Africa bears a profound legal and moral responsibility to protect learners from School-Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV), as mandated by a range of international, regional, and domestic legal instruments. By ratifying treaties like the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Right (ICCPR), the country has committed itself to uphold the rights to dignity, education, and protection from harm. Regionally, instruments such as the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the Maputo Protocol reinforce these obligations, particularly emphasizing the protection of the girl child. Nationally, there are robust legal frameworks, including the Constitution and Sexual Offences Act. There is also Protection from Harassment Act which further establishes the state’s duty to create safe learning environments. It is important to note that these laws are not symbolic but rather they compel the state to act decisively to prevent, address, and sanction SRGBV. Thus, fulfilling these obligations is not merely a legal formality, it is also a moral imperative to ensure every learner can access education free from fear, violence, and discrimination.
Unfortunately, although legal and policy frameworks exist, more and more voices remain muted. What we need is urgency and accountability to enforce legal protections for children. Teachers and principals must be trained to detect and address gender-based violence, not dismiss it. School Governing Bodies must be proactive, not reactive. The Departments of Basic and Higher Education must partner with communities and institutions such as the Police and Social Development , the Thuthuzela Care Centres and other institutions to protect and educate parents, and learners about safety and their rights. Most importantly, SRGB survivors must be believed and supported with counselling, referrals, and protection.
Overall, preventing school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) requires more than just legislative frameworks. It calls for grassroots interventions within homes, schools and communities, gender-sensitive education, and deliberate efforts to empower all learners, especially the most vulnerable. Learners must no longer be silenced, they need safe spaces where their voices are heard, their experiences validated, and their rights upheld. Instilling values of equality, human dignity, and active citizenship in young people is not just essential, it is non-negotiable if we are to achieve lasting change.