The Gauteng education system is reeling from a series of tragic incidents that have left two learners dead and eight others traumatised following sexual assault, prompting renewed concern over violence and safety in South African schools.
On Tuesday morning, a Grade 8 learner at Qalabotjha Secondary School in Vlakfontein, Johannesburg South, collapsed and died before emergency services could attend to her. Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane confirmed the girl passed away on school grounds despite swift intervention from police and paramedics.
The learner’s siblings, in Grades 10 and 12 at the same school, were present when the tragedy occurred. Her Grade 12 brother was writing a Business Studies examination at the time. Psychosocial support teams have been dispatched to assist the family and school community.
“We are devastated by the passing of one of our learners. Losing a child so suddenly is an unimaginable tragedy that no parent, sibling, or school community should ever have to face,” said Chiloane.
The incident comes just a week after another learner’s death. On 2 September, a Grade 9 girl from Davey Secondary School in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, allegedly took her own life following reports of bullying. Police are investigating, while the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has launched an internal inquiry.
Chiloane said the department’s partnership with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) and Childline is being strengthened to encourage learners to seek help. Learners can reach out to Childline by dialling 116 or SADAG on 0800 567 567.
Adding to the crisis, a disturbing sexual assault case has shaken Khomani Primary School in Diepkloof, Soweto. On 1 September, eight boy learners were allegedly drugged by a Grade 7 pupil and then taken to an adult perpetrator, who allegedly raped them at gunpoint. The suspect has since been arrested, while the Grade 7 learner has been suspended pending a disciplinary hearing on 17 September.
“Such an unspeakable act should never happen to any learner in Gauteng,” Chiloane said. “We sympathise dearly with the affected learners and families, assuring them of our full support during this time.”
The Teddy Bear Clinic has been roped in to provide medical and psychological assistance to the victims.
A Pattern of Violence
These incidents are the latest in a worrying pattern of violence and trauma in Gauteng schools. According to the 2024 GDE Annual Safety Report, the province recorded over 1,500 cases of serious violence in schools, including stabbings, bullying, and sexual assaults. In Johannesburg alone, at least 12 learner deaths linked to school violence or suicide were reported between January and December 2024.
National figures paint an equally troubling picture. The South African Council for Educators (SACE) reported that nearly 70% of learners feel unsafe at school, while a 2023 Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention survey found that 22% of Gauteng learners had witnessed violent assaults on school grounds.
Experts warn that the trauma is contributing to poor academic performance and rising dropout rates.
Call for Collective Responsibility
Education activists argue that government alone cannot resolve the crisis. “We are facing a systemic failure where violence, mental health struggles, and lack of safety converge in schools,” said advocacy group Equal Education in a statement. “Parents, communities, and law enforcement must work hand-in-hand with educators.”
Chiloane echoed that sentiment, urging parents to become more involved in learners’ lives and to help instil values of respect and accountability.
“Our collective duty is to ensure the safety of children both in and outside of school,” he said.
As schools across the province mourn the deaths of two learners and confront the trauma of eight others, the spotlight has turned firmly on the state of safety and mental health in Gauteng’s classrooms. For families at Qalabotjha, Khomani, and Davey Secondary, the consequences are already painfully clear.
