South Africa’s (SA) Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube says the debate over restricting social media access at schools raises important policy questions for the country.
The issue is being debated on Sunday as four schools from across the country go head-to-head in the Grand Finale of the 15th Annual South African National Schools Moot Court Programme at the Constitutional Court in Braamfontein.
The schools, Ndabankulu Senior Secondary and Umtata High from the Eastern Cape province, Tygerberg High from the Western Cape, and Klaas Mothapo Secondary from Limpopo province, are arguing before judges from the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court of Appeal and High Court on whether it is constitutional for school cellphone and internet policies to restrict learners of a specific age from accessing social media during school hours.
The moot comes at a time when SA has not introduced a national ban on social media use by under-16s.
Globally, pressure for tighter restrictions is growing, with Australia becoming the first country to ban social media use by under-16s in December 2025. Malaysia, Indonesia and Greece have since followed suit.
–SABC–
