In a bid to create safer school environments and address the growing concern of bullying across the country, The Cyberculture Foundation in partnership with South Africa’s leading fibre network operator (FNO), Vuma will pay a visit to a series of schools in Gauteng as part of its Anti-Bullying Awareness Roadshow.
Scheduled from 5 to 6 February 2025, the roadshows will engage students, educators and parents at Wendywood Primary School, Northcliff High School, and Meadowlands High School through impactful conversations and interactive activities.
“Our purpose as an organisation is to foster digital wellness and responsible online behaviour. Having observed the alarming incidents of bullying across schools and the devastating consequences, we wanted to be able to take a targeted and tangible approach towards addressing this problem,” says Vuyiseka Klaas, Co-Founder of The Cyberculture Foundation.
Klaas adds that the roadshow was launched as a way to engage directly with young people and address the emotional, physical and digital dimensions of bullying that affect the youth.
Tackling a nationwide problem
Bullying remains a significant issue in South African schools, with its impacts ranging from emotional distress to tragic outcomes, including self-harm. According to a 2024 study, over 3.2 million learners in South Africa experience bullying each year. More than 67% of victims avoid seeking help from teachers, believing it won’t improve their situation. 90% of bullying is perpetrated by peers, while 160,000 high school learners bunk school daily to escape bullying. Additionally, one in 10 students drops out due to bullying, and 16% report being victims of cyberbullying.
“In our experience, engaging directly with learners in their school environment helps us identify victims of bullying and foster open conversations,” says Klaas. “There have been cases where we have even had to conduct bullying interventions involving SAPS during our visits to demonstrate to learners the consequences of harassment of any nature.”
With guidance from trained activists, like Tshenolo Khoza, an aspiring law student at the University of Limpopo, learners will have one-on-one discussions around bullying scenarios, learn to define bullying and explore ways to report incidents safely.
“Having witnessed bullying in my community and school, I feel compelled to take action and create positive change,” says Khoza, who has been part of previous roadshows. “I believe that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity, and through my involvement with the foundation, I hope to inspire others to join the movement and create a more just and equitable society.”
Vuma will enrol schools that qualify for its Vuma Fibre to Schools programme, which has already connected over 880 registered schools in its operating regions. This initiative will provide free 1Gbps fibre broadband with its Internet Service Provider partners, empowering learners and teachers with better access to online resources and enriching their classroom experience. The initiative is open to all registered primary and high schools that fall in all the regions in which Vuma operates.
“Our commitment at Vuma goes beyond connectivity, we believe in using technology to create safer, more inclusive communities. Joining this initiative with The Cyberculture Foundation allows us to empower learners with both awareness and access, ensuring they can navigate the digital world safely while benefiting from the opportunities it brings,” says Taylor Kwong, Head of Marketing at Vuma.
Klaas adds that the foundation has already witnessed success through previous roadshows, which included interventions in Polokwane.
For more information, visit cyberculturefoundation.org/.