The Herald’s Portrayal of School Violence in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Abstract

This study explores The Herald’s portrayal of school violence in the Eastern Cape Province (ECP), South Africa. The article, therefore, sets out to report on findings from a qualitative content analysis of 28 news articles and one letter to the editor retrieved from the SAMedia database. The findings shed light on the victims and their victimisation, the perpetrators, as well as the space and locality of school violence. The study identifies demands to and dissatisfaction with the education authorities, educators’ behaviour, the conduct and psyche of learners, the learners’ home environment, as well as the socio-economic and cultural factors as reasons for violence in ECP schools. The study highlights the negative consequences of school violence on teaching and learning and the economy. The study underlines the importance of involving educators, parents, police services and the community in addressing the problem. It is concluded that although The Herald’s atypical and stereotypical portrayal of the phenomenon may create the impression that school violence is endemic in the ECP, previous research on the topic shows that ECP schools are relatively safe places.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n16p490