VANDERBIJLPARK – Sirens, smiles, cheers, and serious messages were the order of the day as Barrage SAPS, alongside the Department of Social Development and Community Policing Forum, visited Laerskool Vaalrivier for an anti-bullying campaign on Monday, April 14.
The rural farm school turned into a learning playground as law enforcement officers brought their finest K9 units, mounted horses, and hard-hitting anti-bullying talks in a bid to make bullying a thing of the past.
The day kicked off with learners being split into two groups, where Grades 1 to 3 were treated to an interactive showcase with SAPS dogs and had the chance to groom majestic horses from the Mounted Unit.
While foundation phase enjoyed a playful yet educational approach to opening young minds to safety and trust in police.
The tone turned serious for Grades 4 to 7 as they packed the school hall for a series of talks.
These senior learners took part in intensive discussions about bullying, spotting red flags, speaking out, and knowing where and how to report it.
Speaking to Ster, Barrage spokesperson Sergeant Sophia Gaboutlwelwe said, “We are conducting a drive on bullying in all our primary schools. We brought different speakers from Social Development, Department of Health, Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units (FCS), and our different units.”
“Our K9 and Mounted Unit are just here to display pupils how we work in SAPS,” she said.
Gaboutlwelwe said several schools complained about bullying happening on their premises, especially from Grade 6 and 7 bullying young ones.
“We’ve realised that some of the root causes emanate from their homes and bring the same conduct to school. We felt it would be of essence to speak to these kids before they find their selves in huge crimes,” she said.
Principal at Laerskool Vaalrivier, Henro Read, shared his reaction on the drive.
“We thank the SAPS for the day and the community at the plot area. This is a great initiative, and I hope it continues in the future so that parents, teachers, pupils, and the community can be taught about bullying. This will help many schools to eradicate bullying not just in the school premises but communities as well,” he said.
