South Africa
By Mpho Moloi
Cape Town, South Africa — In a bold step to tackle the growing problem of violence in schools, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube launched the Collaborative Implementation Protocol between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Basic Education (DBE) on Tuesday. The event took place in Cape Town, where the two ministers committed to making schools safer and more child-friendly. This new protocol comes as a response to the high levels of crime and violence threatening learners, educators, and support staff across the country.
A Plan to Protect Schools
The Collaborative Implementation Protocol is a hands-on guide meant to bring quick and effective action to every school, district, and province in South Africa. It builds on a partnership started in 2011 between the DBE and SAPS, which aimed to shield schools from crime. The new protocol takes things further by clearly spelling out what each group needs to do, ensuring that safety plans are carried out properly at the local level.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Mchunu stressed how vital education is for the future of South Africa’s children. “Our country’s future rests in the hands of our children,” he said. “And as parents, first and foremost, we all desire the same thing—that our children live good, meaningful lives. We know that a solid education is the foundation of that good life.” He pointed out that when schools are unsafe, it steals away the chance for learners to grow and learn in peace.
What the Protocol Aims to Do
The protocol has several clear goals to make schools safer:
Stopping Violence Early: It encourages teamwork between the DBE and SAPS to use Pillar Two of the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy (ICVPS) to stop violence before it starts.
Quick Action: Schools will be linked to their local police stations so help can come fast when crime or violence happens.
Searches and Seizures: Under the South African Schools Act (SASA), searches can happen if there’s a good reason to suspect drugs or weapons.
Fighting Social Problems: It tackles big issues like Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in schools, sexual abuse, drug and alcohol use by learners, and gangsterism in and around school areas.
Stronger Safety Rules: The protocol adds to existing safety standards to make schools more secure.
Mchunu also raised concerns about crimes like burglary and vandalism, which spike during school holidays. “These are not victimless crimes,” he warned. “They rob our children of resources, time, and opportunity.” He explained that these acts disrupt learning and harm the spaces meant to help kids grow.
Everyone Has a Role to Play
The protocol isn’t just a plan for the government—it’s a call for everyone to get involved. Mchunu made it clear that keeping schools safe takes more than just the police. “Policing is not a one-department responsibility,” he said. “It requires what we call a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach.” This means government departments, communities, parents, and schools all need to work together.
To make this happen, the protocol sets up direct communication between schools and nearby police stations. This ensures fast, coordinated responses to problems and steps to stop crime before it begins. But Mchunu was firm that this won’t work without support. “We cannot do this without parents,” he said. “They must be active participants in the fight against crime, starting in their own homes, in their streets, and in their communities.”
A Duty to Keep Kids Safe
Mchunu reminded everyone that the government has a duty under the Constitution to protect the rights to safety, dignity, and education. “These rights must be protected and upheld in every schoolyard, in every classroom, and in every community,” he said. For SAPS, this means making sure South Africans feel safe—but they need well-resourced police stations to do it right.
A Brighter Future for Schools
The Collaborative Implementation Protocol is a big move toward safer schools in South Africa. By setting clear roles, encouraging teamwork, and involving communities, it offers a real chance to cut down on violence and crime. As schools start putting this plan into action, the hope is that learners, educators, and staff will finally get the secure spaces they need to thrive.
In Mchunu’s words, “When schools are unsafe, when learners, educators, and support staff live in fear, it robs learners of the very essence of learning and development.” With this protocol, South Africa is working to change that, one school at a time.
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