Bullying, theft, gangsterism, corporal punishment, drug abuse and the possession of weapons continue to plague Gauteng schools, according to a survey by the provincial department of education. Presented as part of the Sadtu Principals Seminar on School Violence, the survey found that although incidents of corporal punishment had decreased, they remained too frequent. Sixty-one incidents of corporal punishment were recorded in the 2014-2015 period - 13 fewer than the previous year. The sexual abuse, sexual assault and sexual harassment of pupils by teachers increased from 12 recorded incidents in 2012-2013 to 17 in 2013-2014, but decreased to 15 recorded incidents in 2014-2015.Presenting the document, Gauteng education head of department Boy Ngobeni called on teachers to stop employing corporal punishment and to take a stand against the sexual exploitation of pupils.Ngobeni said: "Children are not brought to schools to be girlfriends or boyfriends, husbands or wives."I have heard that some teachers are so callous as to refer to their sexual relations with pupils as a service benefit," said Ngobeni.He added the number of pupils involved in violence was "shooting up", and that "something had to be done". Pupil-on-pupil sexual harassment and abuse increased from six incidents in 2013-2014 to 21 in 2014-2015. More than 20 cases of a teacher being assaulted were reported in the 2014-2015 period.Fifty-four incidents of assault were recorded in 2014-2015, including 17 pupils being stabbed.Seven incidents of bullying and 21 cases of possession of a weapon were recorded.Among the items confiscated from pupils were slipjoint knives, alcohol, dagga and muffins mixed with dagga (a concoction referred to as " space-muffins") allegedly sold by hawkers outside schools.Ngobeni said though the department had provided schools with a generic policy on safety, this had to be adapted to each school's unique circumstances.According to the survey, certain schools were in areas not conducive to a learning environment, such as being plagued by drug dealers.Incidents of violence, drug abuse, theft, bullying and the use of offensive language had created a climate of distrust and fear in schools. Though some schools reported a good relationship with the police, teachers and parents believed more visible policing was needed both during the day and after hours...