Violence at Gauteng schools poses a safety risk to learners and teachers

16 May 2023

The safety of learners and teachers continues to be a problem across the Gauteng province and hinders learning and teaching.

During an oversight inspection today at Almont Technical School in Protea South, Soweto, the Democratic Alliance (DA) witnessed a learner running away from another learner who allegedly pointed a knife at him. Last week Friday, there were incidents at the same school involving police and learners.

These violent incidents are continuing to occur, despite the police conducting random patrols and searches at the school.

During the random searches conducted by the police at this school, police confiscated weapons, dagga, and alcohol. This is a clear indication that the safety of learners and teachers is at risk.

Furthermore, yesterday in Pretoria there was another incident of violence reported at Ruabohlale High in block TT in Soshanguve, Tshwane.

The DA has been reliably informed that a young man was stabbed multiple times in the stomach by a learner on the school premises.

For far too long, the DA has been demanding that the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) reviews the school’s safety strategy due to ongoing incidents of violence at our schools. However, the department has been in denial and insists that its strategy is working.

It is now high time that the department reviews the safety strategy considering the incidents of violence we have witnessed over the last week.

The DA proposes that to solve violence in schools, we need a whole society approach, where members of the community, parents and teachers assist in keeping discipline among our learners.

Furthermore, the department must engage all stakeholders to find a proper solution to school violence. Our schools must be a safe haven, where learning and teaching can take place without fear of violent attacks.

Issued by Khume Ramulifho, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, 16 May 2023