Learners' experiences of school violence in Sarah Baartman District Municipality, Eastern Cape

School-based violence amongst students in South Africa is a growing concern. Such violence is a great concern to all stakeholders involved in the school system. The more violence escalates; the more students are less likely to concentrate on their academic activities which then reduces their chances of success. There are weekly report broadcasts on the media on the death of students across the globe due school-based violence. School-based violence needs to be curbed and schools should be a safe environment where learning and teaching takes place not a battlefield where students live in fear of being the next victim. The aim of this study was to examine students’ experiences of school violence in Sarah Baartman District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A qualitative approach and an exploratory research design were used in conducting this study as these approached allowed participants to share first hand experiences regarding the issue under investigation. A purposive sample was employed to select participants for the study. This technique allowed the researcher to select participants who displayed most of the characteristics of the larger population and who had sufficient knowledge on the issue under investigation. Forty participants were selected for the study as follows: 25 learners; 5 social Workers; 5 educators; and 5 members of the Representative Council of Learners from schools mostly affected by school-based violence. Data was obtained through semi-structured interviews; focus group discussions with students, social workers and educators; and observations. Data was analysed thematically and supported by the relevant literature. The findings revealed that there are high levels of school-based violence in Sarah Baartman District Municipality, however, the whole-school approach as a measure of combatting school violence, has proved to work in some parts of the Eastern Cape, the Western Cape and Kwazulu Natal provinces. Also, retributive forms of punishment show more positive results against corrective /corporal punishment. It is, therefore, recommended that the state should employ school and place social workers in schools in order to assist in addressing social issues within the school system. Stamping out inequalities among students will ultimately decrease school violence