Gauteng MEC for Education and Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation, Matome Chiloane, has undertaken to improve school safety across the province.
Matome was speaking at the final School Safety Imbizo in Sedibeng, at the Ratanda Multipurpose Centre in Heidelberg.
The MEC said there’ll be urgent interventions to strengthen security systems and collaborate with law enforcement to curb criminal activities affecting learning environments.
This event marked the conclusion of a series of engagements held across Gauteng, which were attended by different stakeholders such as law enforcement agencies, community leaders, parents, and learners to address the pressing safety challenges affecting schools.
Stakeholders raised several concerns about school safety in Sedibeng, including the presence of armed gangs and initiation school-related gangsterism, which have been causing disruptions in multiple schools.
Recurring burglaries, vandalism, and theft, especially of school resources like laptops, were highlighted as ongoing threats.
“Additionally, infrastructure challenges, such as the lack of electricity in some classrooms due to cable theft and vandalism, as well as collapsing buildings and fencing that is stolen by members of the community, were cited as major risks to both learners and educators.
Other alarming issues included the presence of dangerous weapons in schools, the rise of bullying and cyberbullying, and insufficient emergency preparedness measures,” said the department spokesperson, Steve Mabona.
Other concerns that were raised include mugging incidents targeting learners traveling to and from school, as well as unhygienic water supply and poor sanitation facilities.
According to Mabona, the department will compile all concerns and proposed interventions from the community and integrate them into its strategies to enhance school safety across Sedibeng.
