The violence occurring in schools is a concerning phenomenon with pervasive implications for learners, teachers, and communities. Its impact culminates in fear, stress, and a reduced sense of safety among learners and teachers. Its consequences extend beyond physical harm, thus affecting an individual’s mental well-being. This study provides a precis of the comprehensive nature of school violence and preventative strategies meant to curb this phenomenon. This study employed a case study design located within the interpretative paradigm. A qualitative approach was used to delve into the perceptions of learners and educators on the nature of school violence and measures that could be adopted to prevent it. Thirty (n = 30) participants involving ten learners (n = 10), ten parents (n = 10), and ten educators (n = 10) were purposively sampled. Ten learners participated in focus-group discussions, with five learners representing each school located in Mbabane, Eswatini (Imbabane Central and Mater Dolorosa High Schools). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 teachers and 10 parents (5 parents and 5 teachers from each school). A lack of effective methods of disciplining learners was identified as a cause of bullying and aggressive behaviours among learners. The findings reflect that violence is deeply rooted in harmful social norms, with corporal punishment being widely advocated by the participants. The findings indicate a crucial need for adopting an integrated and collaborative approach to the development and implementation of effective preventative measures.

This qualitative study delves into the perceptions and experiences of learners and educators regarding bullying in selected schools in KwaZulu-Natal. This article is located on the contours of the constructivist paradigm and the qualitative research approach. Employing (n=37) in-depth interviews and (n=4) focus group discussions, the study provides a nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics of bullying and cyberbullying within the school environment. Despite numerous efforts by the South African government to expand the legislative framework aimed at addressing school-based bullying, the issue persists stubbornly. The study unearthed three primary themes (i) bullying of lower grade learners and teachers (ii) verbal bullying by teachers (iii) cyberbullying. Findings indicated that with the increasing use of digital technologies, students are frequently subjected to online harassment, including threatening messages, spreading of rumours, and social exclusion. This form of bullying extends beyond school grounds, making it difficult for victims to find respite and support. The findings highlight the pervasive and multifaceted nature of bullying in KwaZulu-Natal schools, emphasising the profound impact on the mental and emotional well-being of both learners and educators.

Mental health and work-life balance have been increasingly recognised as a goal of law enforcement agencies worldwide. Murder detectives are frequently exposed to traumatic and brutal crime scenes, which can gradually lead to burnout, emotional distress, and decreased capacity to cope with stress. This study explored available counselling and support services provided to SAPS murder detectives. A case study design and a qualitative approach were used within the constructivist paradigm. Data were collected by in-depth interviews with eight (n = 8) murder detectives and two (n = 2) employees who were purposively sampled from a selected precinct in Durban. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The study revealed that although counselling and support services are available in SAPS, their use is limited and this was attributed to challenges such as not having enough trained health and wellness practitioners, high workload among health and wellness practitioners, limited knowledge of the services among detectives, workload which prevents detectives from prioritising counselling services, confidentiality concerns and religious barriers. Notwithstanding the challenges, murder detectives who utilise support services reported positive perceptions of SAPS support services. Based on the findings, it is recommended that employee health and wellness services be strengthened to provide immediate support to detectives. While stress is unavoidable, effective support structures should be in place to equip detectives with effective coping mechanisms. State the contribution of this study to scholarship.