Lisa Isaacs
Violence perpetrated by children on other children is on the increase at schools as pupils mimic the behaviour of violent communities.
The Saartjie Baartman Centre, together with SAPS and school leaders from the Cape Flats, hosted a panel discussion yesterday about gang violence, child abuse, substance abuse and bullying as part of Child Protection Week, from May 29 to June 5.
The centre has seen a 65% increase in the number of victims seeking help and now assists 60 children.
The centre’s child councillor, Zeenat Osman, said she had seen an increase in child-on-child violence.
“Exposure to violence is an unrelenting problem in the community. This year, we have seen children shot in gang-related crossfire, the rise of girl gangs, and countless reminders that abuse and substance use is rampant across the Cape Flats,” she said.
“Exposure to violence produces a traumatised and often desensitised generation, particularly when children lack the skills and space to process their experiences.”
Earlier this year, the centre launched a life skills programme for schools to identify, discuss and address manifestations of violence.
Heideveld Primary School principal Rosdien Desai said schools reflected violence of the broader South African society.
“Our pupils are becoming extremely violent. We find at our schools we have cases where guns, knives are brought into schools.
“In my experience, pupils who come to school and have experienced violence, they bring this into the school. They take out their inner anger out on fellow pupils and teachers,” he said.
He noted that schools faced major incidents of bullying, saying that only a whole community approach from the family, to the school, police and social settings, could stem the violence.
Lieutenant Ian Bennet, from the Manenberg police station, said: “In the last six years in Manenberg, I have realised that our children are trapped in a situation that they can’t seem to come out of”
He said police had started awareness campaigns to encourage the youth to become part of police services, and break down barriers between children and authorities.
Thaniyah Alexander, 19, of The Leadership College in Manenberg, said that often, domestic abuse and drug use was talked about nonchalantly among her peers.
“I live in Bonteheuwel, and there are cases of drug abuse, gang violence and domestic violence.
“At night sometimes, and the weekend, we hear our neighbours shouting at each other and people say that is normal,” she said.
She added that at school, pupils from violent backgrounds would sometimes take out their aggression on classmates.
“It seems like they are on guard all the time, as if they have to protect themselves.”