Tebogo Monama

Tebogo Monama

The recurrence of school violence around the country is caused by societal ills.

This is the view of the Commission for the Promotion of Rights of Religious, Cultural and Linguistic Communities and Moral Regeneration Movement.

The two organisations were responding to the killing of Nic Diederichs Technical High pupil Jacques Pretorius by a schoolmate wielding a samurai sword last week.

The alleged killer, Morne Harmse, is expected to appear in the Krugersdorp magistrate's court today.

The commission's deputy chairman, Marlene Bethlehem, said: "The bullying syndrome is easily recognisable in schools, but now the loner syndrome is emerging.

"This is where loners want to make their presence felt. It is hard to pinpoint pupils who cause problems."

Zandile Mdhladhla of the Moral Regeneration Movement said: "South Africans should promote good values. What we see in schools is a microcosm of what is happening in the community.

"Good values should be implanted at the home and in the community."