Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane hosted a School Safety Imbizo meeting at Prosperitus Secondary School, addressing urgent safety concerns in 240 high-risk schools.

The initiative brings together education stakeholders, law enforcement, and community members to combat gangsterism, bullying, and violence in educational institutions

Chiloane explained that schools were categorized into 'ember' and 'red' zones, with those in the red category classified as high-risk. He further stated that 240 schools had been identified as high-risk, with 75 facing significant challenges.

He clarified that a high-risk classification does not necessarily mean a school is dangerous but rather considers the surrounding community's conditions.

“If a school is located in a community plagued by gangsterism and crime, where safety is a major concern, then the school is definitely at risk," he said.

The MEC urged SAPS to enhance visibility and improve response times by regularly visiting schools, as many incidents occur after school.

“We have recorded that most incidents happen when the school is out, most of the fights, and stabbings happen during this time,” he added.

He stated that gangsterism is also a significant issue in schools, as many students join gangs for a sense of safety. 'They join gangs for protection, believing that if they're part of a gang, no one will harm them.'

Chiloane also emphasised the department's zero-tolerance policy on bullying, noting that bullying victims sometimes resort to suicide, with some even taking their lives in classrooms.

He added that when the department expels a child for bullying, a letter is sent to the parents informing them that the child can only be re-admitted to school once they have demonstrated rehabilitation through a professional and met all necessary requirements.

Chiloane also addressed an incident where a teacher was reported to have punched grade two learners in the stomach as punishment for misbehaving.

“When the appeal came to me, the school and SGB members proposed a three-month suspension for the teacher. I told them that if it were up to me, it would have been a dismissal. In the end, they gave the teacher a one-month suspension," he said.

Gauteng Provincial Head for Visible Policing, Brigadier Mark Joseph, encouraged schools to engage proactively with law enforcement but clarified that SAPS would only conduct searches upon request. He also stressed the importance of a soft policing approach to prevent instilling fear in learners.

Chiloane also responded to criticism of the Online Admissions System, the MEC defended its efficiency, stating it places over 300,000 learners annually and processes 40,000 applications per second. He urged parents to embrace it rather than push for a return to the manual system, which previously led to discrimination.

The Star

masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za