Entities teach learners at Bronkhorstspruit Primary School about bullying

The SAPS and the Department of Education spoke to Bronkhorstspruit Primary School on 19 February.

They discussed crime and violence, connecting local police stations to all schools, teaching young people about violence and its effects, and creating school-based crime prevention initiatives with local authorities in charge of schools.

The office of Lieutenant Colonel Sibonile Mlaba, the commander of Vispol, the Crime Prevention office, and the Social Crime Prevention office raised awareness of bullying behaviour and vaping.

Bullying is an unwelcome and violent behaviour that occurs among learners over time, and the behaviour is likely to be repeated or has already happened. According to Constable Munyadziwa Cathrine Ramovha, the Bronkhorstspruit SAPS communications officer,

“Bullying is classified into three categories: verbal, social, and physical.

“Verbal bullying is when someone uses words to hurt, harass, or scare another person. It leaves targets feeling ashamed, humiliated, or even afraid.

“Social bullying is when someone tries to hurt another person’s relationships or reputation. This behaviour harms the targeted person’s mental health because it affects their sense of belonging. Part of human nature is the desire to feel accepted as a member of a group. Social bullying can happen online or in person,” said Ramovha.

“Physical bullying is when someone uses their body or an object to hurt or scare someone else. It also includes damaging someone’s property.

“Although most bullying cases reported take place in school buildings, it may occur in the youth’s neighbourhood, on the way to or from school, or online, such as in the case of cyberbullying.

“Cyberbullying is when someone uses technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person. It happens on smartphones, computers, tablets, and gaming systems. Cyberbullying hurts people and, in some cases, is against the law,” said Ramovha.

The entities taught the learners about bullying behaviour and said it is not permitted in schools because doing so will have dire repercussions.

In preventing school bullying, teachers were encouraged to help learners understand it, maintain open lines of communication, inspire them to pursue their passions and teach them to treat others with kindness and respect.

Ramovha warned the learners to stop any bullying and refrain from vaping because it causes side effects such as throat and mouth irritation, headaches, coughs, and feeling sick. The programme is ongoing and will roll out in the rest of the Bronkhorstspruit policing precinct.

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