DBE Senior Management Officials, Ms Simoné Geyer, DDG for Delivery and Support, Mr Pat Khunou, DDG for Finance and Administration, and Mr James Ndlebe, Chief Director for Planning and Implementation Support, represented the DBE during a Portfolio Committee on Basic Education briefing with the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) in Cape Town on 24 February 2026. The briefing focused on concurrent functions and planning alignment; AGSA recommendations; anti-bullying policies; learner admissions; and Strategic and Annual Performance Plans. The Committee has been meeting with various provinces since 2025 to ensure closer collaboration and oversight.

Gauteng MEC Matome Chiloane, represented the GDE, whilst Western Cape MEC David Maynier, represented the WCED. Portfolio Committee on Basic Education Chairperson, Ms Joy Maimela, appealed to the two Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) to continue to address learner admission amid overcrowding and migration challenges, as well as cases of bullying and school violence swiftly. She commended the GDE on their School Self-Build Programme where funds are transferred to schools to build brick-and-mortar-schools instead of relying on mobile classrooms.

The GDE continues to receive increasing reports and incidents of bullying in schools, reflecting the growing prevalence and complexity of learner-on-learner aggression across the province. These incidents take various forms, including physical, verbal, and cyberbullying. The volume and severity of cases places significant pressure on school management and staff. Addressing bullying has therefore become a critical priority for the GDE in its mandate to ensure safe, inclusive, and conducive learning environments for all learners. The GDE is currently finalising the Anti-Bullying Strategy as a guiding instrument for prevention, intervention, and accountability, reinforcing the GDE’s commitment to creating safe teaching and learning environments.

The WCED has established clear reporting procedures to make it as easy and safe as possible for learners to report bullying, whilst prioritising their dignity, safety and confidentiality. The province has implemented the “Abuse no More” policy that provides guidelines to schools on dealing with any form of abuse, including bullying. The guidelines provide advice on reporting incidents of abuse, how to support victims and how to deal with perpetrators. Schools must deal with bullying in terms of the Codes of Conduct. The WCED has published extensive guidelines online on managing discipline at schools, including dealing with bullying and these guidelines have proved to be extremely popular.

The 2026 admissions cycle continues to reflect significant systemic pressure, particularly in entry grades (Grades R, 1 and 8) and transfer grades across some education districts. Substantial progress has been made in placing on-time applications. Districts must be commended for the daily monitoring, the learner mapping against verified available spaces, direct school engagement and implementation of their placement plans. During the recent first phase of his engagements with provinces, Director-General, Mr Mathanzima Mweli, expressed his appreciation to both PEDs for their dedication towards ensuring that learner placement issues are addressed.

Minister Gwarube has on various occasions, accentuated the rights that the DBE carries to protect the rights and dignity of every learner and every teacher in South Africa: “Our learners are still children; young people must be guided, supported, and taught to make the right choices. When violence occurs and learners harm others or bring dangerous drugs and weapons into our schools, we must act to protect everybody’s safety. Our approach must be always firm, fair and restorative; focussed on helping learners understand the impact of their actions. No child should ever come to school in fear. Together with the nine MECs for Education, we carry the responsibility to ensure that every school is a safe, nurturing and supportive place for learning. We cannot and will not allow bullying, intimidation or violence to destroy that environment under any circumstances. Where such incidences occur, schools must act swiftly. In recent weeks, we have seen troubling images of bullying in our schools. Let me be clear: every case must be addressed decisively with compassion, accountability and in accordance with the law. I call on all schools, especially principals, Senior Management Teams, School Governing Bodies (SGBs) to act responsibly, appropriately and without delay when incidents of bullying or violence occur. Equally, I call on our Provincial Education Departments to give schools the necessary support to manage these cases effectively and fairly. The DBE has signed a collaborative Protocol on School Safety with the South African Police Service to keep our schools drug and weapon-free”. The Minister therefore called upon all learners, teachers, parents and school communities to, together, say no to bullying and school violence and yes to respect and kindness in every classroom; every child deserves a place to learn in peace with dignity and without fear.