Learners’ safety under siege: DA demands review of Gauteng schools’ safety strategy

29 May 2023

The DA demands that the Gauteng Department of Education review the school’s safety strategy to ensure the safety of both learners and teachers in and outside the school premises.

This follows the increasing number of incidents of violence and murder of teachers and learners across the province.

In a recent incident, a 17-year-old Palesa Malatjie, a learner from Ntsako Secondary School in Soshanguve, was brutally raped and murdered last week near the school.

Gauteng schools are no longer safe places for learners, which clearly indicates that the current safety strategy is not working and must be reviewed.

For far too long, the DA has been calling on the department to review the school’s safety strategy and implement an integrated safety plan, which has not happened.

In addition, the DA has been requesting the Department of Community Safety to intensify police visibility in our communities.

The DA demands that the Department of Education and Community Safety urgently implement an integrated safety strategy to curb crime in and around schools across the province.

This strategy must involve all the stakeholders dealing with crime issues and target schools in areas where there are high incidents of bullying and gangsterism.

The DA extends its deepest condolences to the family, relatives and friends of Malatjie.

We will continue to follow up on this case to ensure justice for Malatjie and fight for the safety of all Gauteng learners and teachers.

Issued by Khume Ramulifho, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, 29 May 2023