Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane Launches School Safety Imbizos to Protect Learners in High-Risk Schools
By Thabo Mosia
The Gauteng Education Department is responding to growing concerns about student safety in high-risk schools across the province. Matome Chiloane MEC for Education launched the first of four planned school safety imbizos, gatherings designed to address security issues and forge stronger partnerships between schools and their surrounding communities on Saturday. The first imbizo took place in Kliptown, south of Johannesburg, bringing together parents, school governing bodies, and civil rights groups to tackle escalating incidents of violence, gang activity, and other safety risks in schools. With 245 schools across Gauteng identified as high-risk, including 75 classified as critical, the department’s intervention aims to foster safer learning environments for all learners.
1. The Growing Need for School Safety
In recent years, Gauteng has faced an alarming surge in violence and crime within school communities, especially in high-risk areas like Westbury, Eldorado Park, Soshanguve, and Hammanskraal. Students in these areas are particularly vulnerable to gang activity, substance abuse, and even direct threats within their school grounds. Tragically, fatalities among students have underscored the urgency of addressing safety issues in Gauteng’s schools.
At the launch of the Kliptown imbizo, Chiloane highlighted these incidents as a painful reminder of the community’s shared responsibility to safeguard students. “The communities of Klipspruit West, Eldorado Park, and generally the south, there’s an urgent need to deal with the challenges that are happening in our schools,” he stated. These imbizos provide a platform for communities to come together and explore practical solutions for reducing violence and building safer learning environments.
2. Key Issues Raised During the Imbizo
The first imbizo at Kliptown focused on addressing primary safety concerns voiced by parents, educators, and community leaders. Chiloane emphasised that creating safe schools requires more than just security personnel and monitoring systems; it necessitates robust relationships between schools and parents and a strong community presence around school grounds. Issues discussed included:
• Violence and Gang Activity: Many students are exposed to gang influence and violent crime on a daily basis. Incidents of gang recruitment and drug use in and around schools have become all too common.
• Parental and Community Involvement: Chiloane urged parents to actively engage with schools and serve as role models for their children, asserting that the behaviour children observe at home significantly impacts their conduct at school.
• Infrastructure and Resources: To strengthen security, there is a call for better physical barriers, such as fencing, and surveillance in high-risk schools.
This engagement underscores the government’s recognition of the complexity surrounding school safety and the need for collaboration beyond what the Department of Education alone can provide.
3. Chiloane’s Appeal for Parental and Community Involvement
Throughout his address, Chiloane underscored the critical role of parents and local communities in supporting school safety. He warned that many dangerous behaviours are learned outside the classroom, stressing that children “will always copy what those they see as role models do.” Chiloane’s appeal was particularly directed toward parents, urging them to model positive behaviour for their children and engage more actively with their schools.
“We can’t discuss school safety without understanding that the school is a microcosm of the community,” he said. If communities are to ensure safer environments for students, the responsibility must extend beyond school gates and include holistic support for learners’ well-being. By acknowledging the influence that gang culture and violence have on young people, Chiloane aims to inspire parents to take a stand against harmful behaviour.
4. Law Enforcement’s Role in Ensuring School Safety
In light of recent cases of intimidation and extortion involving taxi patrollers and other groups, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has pledged to support school safety efforts through heightened visibility and a zero-tolerance approach to criminal behaviour around schools. SAPS National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, issued directives to provincial commissioners to clamp down on any unlawful practices that threaten student safety.
In addition, Chiloane referenced the “adopt-a-cop” programme, which assigns police officers to high-risk schools. This initiative aims to foster relationships between law enforcement and students, providing reassurance to learners that police are committed to their safety. However, some stakeholders have expressed concerns about the programme’s current effectiveness, noting that certain officers have been unable to fully engage with schools due to limited resources and competing responsibilities.
5. Challenges Faced by School Governing Body Safety Committees
Another prominent issue discussed at the imbizo was the role of School Governing Body (SGB) safety committees, which are intended to serve as a bridge between school management and the surrounding community. However, many of these committees lack the training and commitment necessary to address safety issues effectively. “These school safety committees, they don’t attend training,” Chiloane remarked. “We offer training, but they don’t come at all.”
By neglecting critical safety responsibilities, these committees compromise the well-being of learners and staff. Chiloane has proposed additional training sessions and stricter requirements for SGB members to strengthen their capacity to manage safety protocols, monitor school grounds, and coordinate with local police.
6. Impact of External Violence on School Safety
One of the most pressing challenges in Gauteng is the influence of community violence on school safety. Many students report facing intimidation and aggression from out-of-school youth, who often loiter near school gates and target learners for gang recruitment or revenge attacks. Chiloane described incidents in which students were killed just outside school grounds, an alarming reflection of the dangers students face daily.
These external conflicts not only endanger students’ lives but also erode the sense of security necessary for effective learning. School officials and community leaders acknowledge that addressing these issues requires collaboration with law enforcement and a shared commitment to protecting children from harm.
7. Department of Education’s Strategy for School Safety and Security
To combat these issues, the Gauteng Department of Education has devised a comprehensive strategy to improve safety across high-risk schools. The strategy includes:
• Enhanced Security: Installation of fencing, security cameras, and other physical barriers to prevent unauthorised entry.
• On-site Security Personnel: In some critical cases, the department has hired private security guards to monitor school premises. While this measure has been effective in some areas, budget constraints limit its long-term sustainability.
• Dedicated SAPS Support: Increased collaboration with SAPS to provide visible policing during high-risk periods, such as the start and end of school days.
However, these measures alone are not sufficient. Chiloane acknowledged the need for greater community engagement and support from local stakeholders to sustain these safety efforts.
8. Extracurricular Activities and School Culture
A key component of Chiloane’s approach to improving school safety is the promotion of extracurricular activities, which he believes can channel students’ energy into positive outlets and reduce their exposure to negative influences. The MEC has instructed schools to ensure that every student participates in at least one extracurricular activity, whether it be sports, music, or the arts. This initiative aims to build a stronger, more inclusive school culture that prioritises both academic and personal development.
From next year, participation in extracurricular activities will be documented in students’ academic reports, providing parents with a comprehensive view of their child’s involvement in school life.
9. Scholar Transport Safety Challenges
The Gauteng Education Department has also turned its attention to the issue of scholar transport. Many students rely on informal transport services to reach school, and these operators are often unregulated. MEC Chiloane expressed concern about the lack of oversight, noting that some drivers play loud music and fail to adhere to basic safety standards.
To address this issue, Chiloane has called for schools to register all scholar transport providers, ensuring they meet the department’s safety criteria. This will help to mitigate risks associated with unlicensed drivers and create a more orderly environment for students.
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