In the past few days, South Africa was shocked by an extreme case of school violence that took place at a school in Krugersdorp in Gauteng. Although the press is reporting widely on all the possible causes that could have contributed to this act of violent behaviour by an 18 year old boy, a recurring thread is emerging out of all the accounts, namely that the boy had felt excluded and had been bullied over many years. In an article published in Beeld on 21 August, the parents of the boy tell about the unhappiness of their son - "Ons seun is geboelie' ('Our son has been bullied')

Although it is not always easy for schools to deal with the various challenges that teenagers face, one can ask the question whether enough attention is devoted to creating a culture of care and support at schools where everyone is made to feel welcome.

Read a short guideline about Creating Welcoming School Cultures.