The Democratic Alliance is calling for a complete safety audit of all schools in the Eastern Cape so that vulnerabilities can be identified and addressed. This follows an increasing wave of criminality targeting our learning institutions in the province.
Reports of a criminal syndicate targeting at least five schools in Mthatha —Laphumikhwezi, Polar Park, Mandela Park, Bambanani, and Efata School for the Deaf & Blind —are a stark reminder of the escalating crisis of school safety.
When schools become targets for criminals, our teachers and children pay the price with their safety, their mental health, and their futures. We cannot stand by and watch as our learners’ right to a secure and conducive learning environment is stolen out from under them.
These criminals, armed with guns, threaten school principals and teachers with violence if they do not cooperate, creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation in our educational institutions.
We commend the SAPS’s efforts in intensifying policing to address these cases of extortion. However, these cases are just the tip of the iceberg, and a wider approach needs to be implemented to safeguard our children.
I will write to Education MEC Fundile Gade to request that the Department of Education initiate a comprehensive safety audit of all schools in the province to identify vulnerabilities and implement security solutions. These measures should include securing perimeters, controlling access points, and increasing visibility in high-risk zones.
In addition, we call for the installation of CCTV surveillance, particularly in school administrative blocks, to deter criminal activities and ensure swift action in case of an incident.
I will also call on the MEC to establish a joint task force with Community Safety and relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure that reporting and dealing with criminal cases can be expedited and these criminals brought to book.
The existing infrastructure backlog must be fast-tracked, particularly the significant delays in school fencing projects, which have left many schools vulnerable.
Our learners’ and educators’ safety and well-being must remain our top priority. We cannot allow criminal elements to undermine the sanctity of our educational institutions. Taking these decisive steps can restore safety and security in our schools and create an environment where education can thrive without fear.
ENGLISH