• EU funds national program to curb bullying and gender-based violence

• More than 11,000 bullying cases reported in public schools in 2024–2025

• Estimates put annual victims at about 3.2 million students nationwide

The European Union has committed $5.86 million to support a national South African program aimed at preventing and combating school bullying and gender-based violence. The funding, equivalent to 95,729,300 rand, was announced on January 19 at Eldorado Secondary School in Johannesburg by South Africa’s Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube.

EU Ambassador to South Africa Sandra Kramer described the contribution as a commitment to gender-inclusive education and to building safer schools and communities. Minister Gwarube said child safety is a global priority and stressed that learning cannot take place in environments marked by fear, intimidation, or danger. She also underlined that being a victim of bullying is not a sign of weakness and urged students to break the silence.

The investment comes as gender-based violence and school bullying remain major challenges for South Africa’s education system. Reports from Provincial Education Departments submitted to the Department of Basic Education show that 11,194 bullying cases were reported in public schools between October 2024 and September 2025, highlighting the persistence of the problem despite prevention efforts.

Data from the Institute for Security Studies and UNICEF estimate that about 3.2 million South African students are affected by bullying each year, nearly twice the global average. At the start of the 2025 school year alone, more than 500 incidents had already been recorded nationwide, with wide disparities across provinces, underscoring the need for targeted and coordinated interventions.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou