The Department of Basic Education (DBE), through its School Safety Directorate, conducted an Online Safety Integrated Workshop at Dlangezwa High School in the King Cetshwayo District, KwaZulu-Natal, from 18 to 19 August 2026. The workshop was held against the backdrop of the significant impact of violence on children in South Africa and globally, with digital technology creating additional risks that could extend beyond physical boundaries. As children become increasingly exposed to online sexual abuse, cyberbullying, exploitation, harmful content and human trafficking, the programme highlighted the need to strengthen measures that protected learners and supported their safe and responsible participation in digital spaces.
The two-day programme brought together education stakeholders and partner organisations, including UNICEF, Agape Youth Movement, Google, the Film and Publication Board (FPB), the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, and the Department of Social Development. Through a combination of presentations, discussions and practical activities, the workshop focused on strengthening participants’ capacity to identify online risks, respond appropriately to incidents and support learners in navigating the digital environment.
Setting the tone for the programme, Mr Sammy Maraba, Assistant Director in the DBE’s School Safety Directorate, emphasised that online safety formed an important part of learner well-being and needed to be integrated into broader education and support systems. He highlighted the importance of incorporating online safety into the Life Orientation curriculum, with support from curriculum, e-Learning, governance, psychosocial support and inclusive education directorates. This integrated approach sought to ensure that educators and learners were equipped with the knowledge and skills to recognize online harm, respond to risks and promote responsible digital citizenship.
Building on this foundation, Ms Mmaletjema Lekalakala from the FPB addressed the shared responsibility of educators, families, communities and relevant stakeholders in creating safer digital environments for children and young people. The discussions then broadened to cybersecurity and the practical steps required to protect learners and school communities online. Ms Siphokazi Novukuza and Ms Noma-Efese Mngeta from the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies provided participants with an overview of cybersecurity concepts, relevant legislation, the reporting of cyber incidents and the protection of personal information. Participants were also introduced to the Cybersecurity Toolkit, developed in collaboration with the DBE, as a resource to support schools in strengthening their cybersecurity awareness and practices.
The focus on digital responsibility continued through Dr Karen Walstra’s session on behalf of Google, which addressed digital literacy, age restrictions, safe online communication, cyberbullying and the responsible use of artificial intelligence. In addition to highlighting potential online risks, Dr Walstra explored the opportunities that artificial intelligence presented in education and stressed the importance of establishing clear guidelines to ensure that digital tools were used responsibly and ethically.
Complementing these discussions, Mr Paseka Njobe from the Agape Youth Movement promoted learner-centred approaches that encouraged critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication and problem-solving. He encouraged educators to use practical online safety scenarios as learning opportunities, enabling learners to consider potential risks, assess different situations and make informed decisions when engaging in digital spaces.
On the second day, Dr Walstra continued the programme with a session focused on strengthening participants’ understanding of online safety content across Grades 8 to 12. Participants explored ways of integrating online safety into different grades while considering the developmental needs of learners. Practical guidance was provided on protecting personal information, managing privacy settings, creating strong passwords, browsing safely and downloading content responsibly.
Through the two-day engagement, the Online Safety Integrated Workshop strengthened collaboration amongst education stakeholders whilst providing participants with practical knowledge and strategies to promote safer digital environments. By connecting curriculum-based learning with cybersecurity, digital literacy, child protection and psychosocial support, the workshop reinforced the importance of a coordinated approach to safeguarding learners and equipping them to participate responsibly and safely in an increasingly digital world.