Hazing, associated with initiation, aims at taking newcomers from novice status to a status of
functional and acknowledged members of a new group. However, the process is often
dangerous, injurious, and usually secretive. Hazing may occur as an unauthorised component
of institutionally sanctioned orientation programmes commonly held for new students at
educational institutions at the beginning of the academic year. This study focuses on the
occurrence of hazing elements in orientation programmes (OP) for Grade 8 boys primarily run
by Grade 12 learners in boys-only secondary schools in South Africa. A cross-sectional survey
was conducted by administering a researcher-designed questionnaire to a non-probabilistic
sample of 296 Grade 12 learners enrolled at three boys-only secondary schools in Johannes-
burg. The computer assisted analysis strategy included frequency distributions, exploratory
factor analysis, and analysis of variance. Findings indicated that respondents generally agreed
with regard to the structure, aims, and behaviours common to orientation programmes. Res-
pondents strongly disagreed about the occurrence of physical and sexual abuse and activities
aimed at discomfort in the OP; however, respondents showed ambivalence about the occur-
rence of certain activities, which may deteriorate into hazing. Prior experience of an orientation
programme when in Grade 8; length of enrolment in the school, and boarder status affected
respondents’ perceptions of certain aspects of orientation programmes.

doi: 10.15700/201503070756