Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane
By Karabo Marifi
The Gauteng Department of Education’s efforts to prioritize teaching and learning are being severely disrupted by escalating incidents of crime, bullying, gangsterism, vandalism, and substance abuse within schools. Education MEC Matome Chiloane highlighted these pressing issues during a recent school safety imbizo in Tsakane, Ekurhuleni.
“Our educational plans are continually interrupted by incidents of crime, bullying, gangsterism, vandalism, and drug and alcohol abuse,” Chiloane stated. He emphasized that these challenges significantly hinder the educational environment, affecting both teaching and learning processes.
The imbizo, a community-driven dialogue, aims to address critical safety concerns by fostering collaboration among local stakeholders, educators, and students. The inaugural session was held earlier in November in Kliptown, Soweto, where discussions centered on enhancing partnerships between schools and parents to combat safety issues.
To mitigate these challenges, the department has implemented several measures:
• Securing school access points to control entry and exit.
• Conducting search and seizure operations to remove contraband.
• Deploying security personnel, including guards and patrollers.
• Collaborating with community structures and law enforcement agencies to strengthen security.
Despite these interventions, Chiloane expressed concern over persistent reports of violence, bullying, arson, and vandalism. He revealed that approximately 55 schools in the region have been identified as high-risk areas where such incidents are prevalent.
“We have identified gang groups within these schools, with names such as Boofs, Gailos, Nkabination, and Amabutho,” Chiloane noted. He also highlighted ongoing conflicts between School Governing Bodies and local communities over self-initiated projects, escalating student altercations, and pervasive substance abuse issues.
Chiloane underscored that schools often mirror their surrounding communities. “Peaceful communities tend to foster safe schools, while those marked by violence often see similar behaviors manifest in their educational environments,” he explained. This environment sometimes leads students to bring dangerous items like knives, machetes, and even firearms to school.
In response, the department is developing strategies to shield schools from these societal challenges. Key intervention strategies include:
• Parental and community engagement to foster a supportive environment.
• Safety and security training for staff and students.
• Educational and awareness programs addressing violence and substance abuse.
Recent food poisoning incidents have further compounded the department’s challenges. Tragic events have resulted in the deaths of several children, prompting the department to temporarily suspend food sales within schools. While mindful of the impact on informal traders and small businesses, the department has since lifted the ban, emphasizing the necessity for all food vendors to ensure the safety of their products and obtain the required permits from municipal offices.
Chiloane urged traders to avoid selling repackaged or expired food items and to adhere strictly to the department’s issued guidelines and standard operating procedures. “This issue is about learner safety,” he stressed.
The Gauteng Department of Education’s efforts to prioritize teaching and learning are being severely disrupted by escalating incidents of crime, bullying, gangsterism, vandalism, and substance abuse within schools. Education MEC Matome Chiloane highlighted these pressing issues during a recent school safety imbizo in Tsakane, Ekurhuleni.
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