By Emily Setona
Qwaqwa — For educators who spend their days protecting children, Free State Education MEC Dr Julia Maboya had a deeply personal message: teachers too deserve protection, dignity and justice.
Addressing hundreds during a GBVF awareness walk to the sacred Wetsi’s Cave, Maboya said teachers who have survived violence, harassment and intimidation should not suffer in silence.
“Your profession does not make you immune to pain, and your strength does not mean that you must suffer in silence. You too are worthy of dignity, support, protection, and justice,” Maboya said.
Her message struck a chord with teachers who said they carry their own trauma while supporting learners who experience violence at home.
“As a foundation phase teacher, we see it. Some kids come from families where they experience violence, so they treat us with those attitudes,” said Nthabiseng Molehe, 30, from Botle ba Thuto Primary School.
For many, the walk was both protest and prayer.
“Today was very emotional for me. I thought it best to support so that I can go to the cave, ask the ancestors and even God to intervene in this scourge of GBVF,” said Dipolelo Mofokeng, 32, from Makhalaneng Primary School.
“We don’t know, maybe tomorrow it will be me or my children who experience this.”
Nokulunga Moloi, 26, also from Botle ba Thuto in Xhariep, said young teachers have nowhere to share their struggles.
“I’m happy to be here to support victims of GBVF. As a young teacher we have no place to share our struggles,” she said.
“The community must support teachers because abuse often comes from children who come from environments where they are exposed to violence.”
Maboya invoked the ancestors as the crowd walked.
“As we take this journey, we invoke the protective presence of those who walked before us, Baholo Barona, asking that their light and protection surround our women and children,” she said.
“This walk is for women who lost their lives, survivors whose wounds are visible and hidden, children exposed to violence, mothers living in fear and daughters who deserve freedom.”
SADTU deputy provincial chairperson Phildah Ngesi said teacher safety is learner safety.
“When educators are empowered to fight this scourge, we as SADTU are glad. If you, the educator, are not well, how can you impart the right knowledge to children?” she said.
“Power is not domination. Love is not abuse. GBVF is not our heritage, culture and future.”
Maboya said safe schools cannot exist without safe homes and communities.
“We must protect the learner, but we must also protect the educator. We must listen to the child, but we must also listen to the teacher,” she said.
“And to every educator who has become a safe harbor for a child in distress, we see you. We value you.”
Deputy director for labour relations Teboho Mokoena was blunt: “In the workplace, sexual harassment is not allowed. When a man or woman says no, no is no. At work, bullying is prevalent.”
As educators climbed towards the cave, the call was clear — for Ubuntu, dignity and justice.
“Let what we leave behind be Ubuntu. Let it be dignity. Let it be courage. Let it be protection. Let it be justice. Let it be life,” Maboya said.
“Our ancestors may have left us places of refuge, but our responsibility is to leave our children a society in which they no longer need to seek refuge from one another.”
