Cape Town: When schools are unsafe, when learners, educators and support staff live in fear, it robs learners of the very essence of learning and development, says Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. ‘Our country’s future rests in the hands of our children. 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,’ Mchunu said.
According to South African Government News Agency, Mchunu was speaking at the launch of the Collaborative Implementation Protocol between SAPS and the Department of Basic Education in Cape Town. Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube and Mchunu jointly unveiled the protocol, pledging to create safer, child-friendly learning environments amid high statistics of violence.
The Collaborative Implementation Protocol between SAPS and the Department of Basic Education is aimed at improving safety in schools around the country. This document will be a practical guide to bring urgent action in every district, in every province, and in every school.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the SAPS, in 2011, formed a partnership to safeguard schools from crime and violence to protect learners and teachers. A new implementation protocol was necessary to clarify each party’s roles, ensure a proper division of work plan activities, and to ensure the protocol’s objectives are executed effectively at the local level. This will also include implementing joint SAPS and DBE led crime prevention programmes within schools.
The protocol focuses on promoting collaboration between the DBE and SAPS to implement pillar two of the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy (ICVPS) for early violence prevention and connecting schools with local police stations for swift responses to crime and violence. It includes conducting searches and seizures in line with the South African Schools Act (SASA), addressing social ills such as school-related Gender-Based Violence, sexual abuse, alcohol and drug use among learners, and tackling gangsterism in schools and surrounding communities.
Mchunu emphasized the need to supplement existing safety standards in schools, stating that the Protocol serves as a measure to strengthen safety and security. He highlighted issues like burglary and vandalism, especially during school holidays, which rob children of resources, time, and opportunity. Mchunu also stressed the government’s constitutional duty to uphold the rights to safety, dignity, and education in every schoolyard and community.
He called for a community-based, inclusive approach to school safety, establishing functional communication lines between schools and police stations for coordinated responses to incidents and proactive crime prevention. He also urged parents to be active participants in the fight against crime, starting in their own homes and communities.