Violence Perpetrated by Learners and Management Towards Early-Career Educators in South African Township Schools

Tryphina Matlale Matemane and Thulani Andrew Chauke ()
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Tryphina Matlale Matemane: College of Education, Department of Educational Leadership and Management, University of South Africa, Pretoria 0003, South Africa
Thulani Andrew Chauke: College of Education, Department Adult Community and Continuing Education, University of South Africa, Pretoria 0003, South Africa

Social Sciences, 2025, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-17

Abstract: The reality in South Africa is that township school environments are not safe for early-career educators. According to South Africa’s Constitution in the Bill of Rights, every learner has the right to a free, reputable education. Although educators are obligated to facilitate this free education, the right to education does not supersede the right to safety because, without protection, more rights will be violated. This study aimed to explore forms of violence perpetrated by school management teams and learners against early-career educators in township schools in Soshanguve, South Africa. A qualitative research method was used to access deeper information on the topic. Clarke’s six steps of thematic analysis were used to analyse the data. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather information. The major findings of this study revealed four forms of violence experienced by early-career educators, which included physical and verbal violence, financial violence and sexual violence. This study recommends that parents should make a habit of checking their children’s schoolwork. This will hold learners accountable for their work. Parents should minimise engaging in conflict in the presence of their children, as this can have adverse emotional and psychological effects on them. They should provide a supportive environment for their children, which can foster a positive parent–child relationship. In addition, the community should play a proactive role in combating substance abuse by ensuring that substances are not accessible to children.

Keywords: violence; early-career educators; township; learners; school management teams; abuse (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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