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Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane addressing the issue of school security during an imbizo
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has met with several stakeholders to address safety challenges in schools around the province.
We successfully hosted the West Rand #SchoolSafety Imbizo today at Hoër Tegniese Skool N Diederichs, bringing together parents, community members, and key stakeholders to discuss solutions for enhancing school safety.
Attendees shared their concerns with MEC @matomekopano and… pic.twitter.com/325IKwjGRC
— Gauteng Department of Education (@EducationGP1) February 22, 2025
Over 200 schools in the province have been identified as high risk in terms of safety.
Chiloane says gangsterism remains an issue both in the community and in schools.
“The criteria we utilise to determine the risk of the school, the first thing we look at is the community in which the school finds itself.
When we say high risk schools, we’re not saying the school is high risk, we’re saying the schools that are in high risk areas are at risk and so if the area is riddled with gangsterism.
When we say gangsterism, we are not saying those who are associated with gangs outside the school but also looking at the groupings that are organised within the school boundaries of which they operate like gangs.”
Chiloane also highlighted that although private security can be deployed to schools, Gauteng safety wardens also play a role in keeping schools and communities safe.
Chiloane says the wardens, popularly known as ‘amaPanyaza’ are supposed to be permanently patrolling schools as private security is only a temporary measure.
“Schools that we provide private security, it’s a temporary measure. We don’t provide them permanently, sometimes they’re there for a week, sometimes they’re there for a month. The wardens are supposed to be permanently with us in all schools, that was part of their establishment. They need to assist and safeguard our communities in particularly with the schools in the morning, they need to be visible in schools, in the afternoon they need to be visible. The critical cog in this strategy we’re implementing is the community, we really need the community to be on board>”
