The Eastern Cape Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Correctional Services, South African Police Services and the Fire Department, held a Book Camp Programme on Gender Based Violence Abuse in Schools at the Bonxa Primary School, Tabankulu, Alfred Nzo West Education District.

The purpose of the programme was to Empower and Educate School Management, Educators and Learners about Gender Based Violence Abuse in Schools.

Elaborating more on the above statement was the Youth and Special Programmes Unit Director Zukiswa Njotini, she said, "Today we gathered at Bonxa Primary School to conduct this programme to ensure health and safety Learning and Teaching environment in our Province."

The School is one of the schools that reported  a Gender Based Violence case in June 2022, therefore  we are here to Empower the School Management, Educators and Learners on protocols for reporting sexual harassment and abuse in schools.

Message of support from the Department of Correctional Services was done by the Tabankulu Correctional Services Human Resource Manager Lindela Diko, he said we are collaborated with the Education Sector as we answered to the call fight against Sexual Violence, Bullism and Substance Abuse in our schools, therefore today we are here to build relations with these sister departments on the aim of fighting this GBV epidemic in our Province."

Speaking on behalf of the Learners were  2 learners from  Bonxa Secondary School Asemahle Tshona, female (16) and Emihle Tshitshiba, male (18).

Asemahle said, "Today the Education Department visted our school to educate us on how to handle our lives correctly, as well as educate us about gender based violence since there was was a case of sexual violence in our schools, therefore we having this at our school, we have learned processes and protocols of reporting cases of sexual Harassment."

Additionally,  Emihle said; "Parents or Community at large should have been invited to attend events of this nature as incidents of GBV, Rape, Sexual Harassment and Bullying are things that we grew up experiencing in our communities and psychologically think that is how a girl should be treated, therefore,  I believe that we as Bonxa learners are very honored to be part of this event and we believe that my peers will take the knowledge to our communities."