South Africa's Human Rights Commission has found that more than a fifth of sexual assaults on South African children happen in schools.
South Africa's Human Rights Commission has found that more than a fifth of sexual assaults on South African children happen in schools.
The commission's report also said that school was the most common site of assault and robbery against pupils.
The commission's report also said that school was the most common site of assault and robbery against pupils.
No fewer than 40% of children interviewed said they had been the victims of crime at school.
No fewer than 40% of children interviewed said they had been the victims of crime at school.
The report urged the introduction of metal detectors and other measures to improve school security.
The report urged the introduction of metal detectors and other measures to improve school security.
It cited cases of seven-year-old children playing a game called "rape me, rape me", to demonstrate how endemic sexual violence in South Africa was.
It cited cases of seven-year-old children playing a game called "rape me, rape me", to demonstrate how endemic sexual violence in South Africa was.
Impact on classroom
Impact on classroom
"An area of serious concern," the authors wrote, "was that of an educator accused of sexual assault or rape, who remained teaching the alleged victim, pending disciplinary measures taken."
"An area of serious concern," the authors wrote, "was that of an educator accused of sexual assault or rape, who remained teaching the alleged victim, pending disciplinary measures taken."
More widely, violence in schools was found to be inseparable from the communities they served, with exposure to domestic violence, gangsterism, and drugs having a big impact on pupils' performance in the classroom.
More widely, violence in schools was found to be inseparable from the communities they served, with exposure to domestic violence, gangsterism, and drugs having a big impact on pupils' performance in the classroom.
"A school is often a mirror image of the community and the families it serves," the report said. "Schools therefore cannot address violence in isolation."
"A school is often a mirror image of the community and the families it serves," the report said. "Schools therefore cannot address violence in isolation."
The Commission found that the slightest provocation could lead to one pupil assaulting another - and that teachers often left the profession because of psychological violence and physical assault by pupils.
The Commission found that the slightest provocation could lead to one pupil assaulting another - and that teachers often left the profession because of psychological violence and physical assault by pupils.
Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Have you or someone you know been a victim of crime at a school in South Africa? Send us your comments using the form below.
Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Have you or someone you know been a victim of crime at a school in South Africa? Send us your comments using the form below.
We lived as expats in South Africa in 2003-2004. I worked in a school in Diepsloot settlement. Girls as young as 6 were being "pimped" by male relatives. A girl in my class was abducted, gang raped, run over by a car, and left for dead. She survived, but got poor medical care, and was put in a home situation where she was blamed for her attack. Most female teenagers we met had been sexually assaulted by age 16. We could not give the kids even pencils or fruit to take home, because it would put them at risk for violence. Shelly Trost, McHenry, IL USA
How many hundred years will it take before living conditions in Africa improve? It is incredible really. How long can it keep getting worse? Amazing. Why is it that every single African country appears unable to govern itself, to control crime, violence, etc? Is it really all due to lack of resources and coruption or is there something else wrong?dood, San Jose, Costa Rica
