By Johnathan Paoli
Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane has reaffirmed his commitment to implementing urgent measures to combat crime in schools across the province.
Speaking at the School Safety Imbizo in Sedibeng over the weekend, Chiloane welcomed the conclusion of a series of engagements held across Gauteng to tackle pressing school safety challenges. The meetings were attended by various education stakeholders, law enforcement agencies, community leaders, parents and learners.
“We do not have high-risk schools, we have schools that are at risk. And risk demands action,” he said.
The event was the last in a series of imbizos held in Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg and the West Rand.
The department pledged to compile a document of all concerns and suggested interventions from the community, integrating them into a broader strategy to enhance school safety across Sedibeng.
Chiloane emphasised that safety was not solely the responsibility of the police, but a collective effort that began at home.
He urged parents to actively engage in their children’s discipline, education and moral development, stating that a secure learning environment was built on strong families.
Chiloane assured attendees that the department would work closely with law enforcement agencies to increase police patrols in high-risk areas and introduce anti-drug programmes in schools.
In light of many schools struggling with electricity shortages, a situation exacerbated by unpaid municipal bills, Chiloane urged municipalities to refrain from cutting power supplies to schools, saying it had a detrimental impact on learning.
He confirmed that the department had made arrangements with all mayors and urged for greater understanding considering the importance of education.
The MEC stressed that a one-size-fits-all approach would not be effective, reiterating that meaningful change started at the grassroots level, with community members playing a pivotal role in creating safe learning environments.
Some concerns raised during the imbizo were the increasing presence of armed gangs and initiation school-related gangsterism, recurring burglaries, vandalism and theft, particularly of essential school resources.
Attendees were also unhappy about infrastructure challenges and power shortages due to cable theft. Reports of collapsing buildings and stolen fencing further underscored the vulnerability of schools to criminal activities.
Other concerns included the presence of dangerous weapons in schools, rising cases of bullying and cyberbullying and insufficient emergency preparedness measures.
Stakeholders also pointed out the dangers faced by learners outside school premises, such as frequent muggings, unhygienic water supply and poor sanitation facilities.
Department spokesperson Steve Mabona praised the event as an important platform for consolidating inputs on finding solutions to the challenges the province was grappling with.
“There is a commitment from the police to work with us, to make sure there is police visibility, which will assist. That is why we want them to work with us and make sure we are prioritised as a sector,” Mabona said.
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