By Charmaine Ndlela
The DA has accused the Gauteng Department of Education of endangering learners and teachers by cancelling professional school security contracts without conducting risk assessments.
DA Gauteng education spokesperson Michael Waters said a recent written reply from MEC Matome Chiloane confirmed that the department did not follow basic due diligence before withdrawing accredited security services from schools across the province.
According to the DA, the MEC admitted the department failed to assess the financial implications of recovering contracted security, consider the heightened risks of vandalism, burglary or arson, evaluate the safety impact on learners, teachers and school staff, or review the consequences for schools already classified as high-risk.
Waters said the department terminated contracts with trained, PSIRA-accredited security guards and replaced them with untrained patrollers who are not deployed after hours, over weekends or during school holiday periods when schools are most vulnerable.
Waters said that this decision had already had devastating real-world consequences, citing the recent murders of a principal and administrator at Enxiweni Primary School in Tembisa.
The tragedy highlighted “gross negligence” on the part of the Gauteng Education Department, according to the DA.
“Schools are high-value public assets, many of which face daily threats from gangs, break-ins, and criminal networks,” Waters said. “Instead of reinforcing security, MEC Chiloane weakened it and now school communities are paying the price.”
The DA demanded the immediate reinstatement of accredited security personnel at all high-risk schools, and a full account of how the decision to cancel professional security services was authorised.
INSIDE EDUCATION
