‘Let’s focus on our kids’ safety’
Wave of crime in township schools throws spotlight on security woes as debates on Bela Bill gain momentum
Nelson Mandela Bay township schools are in the crosshairs, with a fresh wave of crime adding fuel to fiery public debates regarding the controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill.
Over the past week, at least three schools in Motherwell have been hit by unscrupulous thugs, with cellphones, laptops, car keys, wallets and even calculators stolen.
The latest spotlight on security woes has come against the backdrop of various public hearings in the metro regarding the Bela Bill, which many parents have criticised for not addressing critical safety issues.
Yesterday, principals, teachers and parents voiced various concerns at a fresh hearing held at the Raymond Mhlaba Sports Centre in Motherwell.
The bill seeks to, among other things, criminally punish parents if they do not send their children to school without a good reason.
School safety is not one of them.
In addition, it dictates the prohibition of corporal punishment and initiation, grants the head of education the ultimate authority over a school’s language, admission or religion policy, and establishes grade R as the mandatory starting point for the school year at age six.
Critics have bemoaned its silence on issues such as sexual abuse in schools, safety and security, infrastructure, online and blended learning, as well as systemic problems including dropouts and resource deficiencies — all, according to experts, valid reasons a parent would not want to send their child to school.
Regarding the latest spate of attacks, police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said various robberies that occurred in Motherwell, Kwazakhele and KwaNobuhle between February and March 1 were under investigation.
Naidu said in most incidents, three to five men would storm the premises during school hours and rob staff, teachers and pupils.
“In one incident in Motherwell, a principal was at his car, with the laptop still on the car roof, when his vehicle was hijacked in the parking lot,” Naidu said.
“The vehicle was recovered shortly after the incident but his laptop was gone.”
Extra classes for at least three schools also had to be cancelled at the weekend when a teacher from Tinara High in KwaNobuhle was hijacked at the school gate and her belongings were stolen.
Molly Blackburn, Solomon Mahlangu and Tinara matric pupils were meant to attend extra sessions on Saturday, but fearing safety concerns, teachers cancelled the sessions.
Parent Mendi Sokombela said she was “sick and tired” of the robberies at her grade 4 child’s primary school.
“Over the past year, at least four robbery incidents took place at Vezubuhle,” Sokombela, who attended yesterday’s hearing, said.
“This needs to stop and someone needs to do something about it.
“Schools are supposed to be a safe place.”
Motherwell police station’s
Crime Prevention Forum chair, Siphiwo Mbolekwa, said the bill needed more work.
“There is no mention of security or safety measures at schools in this Bela proposal,” Mbolekwa said.
“We are very concerned that this is not included when schools in Motherwell are under constant attack.
“On Friday, many schools were robbed.”
Ward 51 committee member on safety and security, Mncedisi Thomas, echoed Mbolekwa’s sentiments.
“The department should provide security and they should conduct searches and seizures at schools,” he said.
“Many schools in this area are under threat, and yet the bill makes no mention of security, or how it will be addressed.”
“Criminals are also vandalising schools yet nothing is being done to curb this.”
Community member Lungisile Booi said safety in schools should be a priority.
“How is it possible for the bill not to say anything about safety in schools?
“I’m dismayed about this and would like to see the bill
include this. I hope they take our community members’ concerns to heart.”
Another parent, Mncedisi Mbuqu, was also concerned.
“It’s not OK for the bill not to talk about safety and security at schools when crime is out of control.
“I have three kids in three different schools, and it upsets me that this bill is quiet when it comes to governance and only focuses on administrative issues.
“Bullying, robberies, nutrition, infrastructure, drugs and safety are serious problems.”
Education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima confirmed that many extra classes had to be called off at Bay township schools at the weekend because of the robberies.
“It’s a safety measure,” Mtima said.
“Since then, the department activated its district safety teams and we are dealing with this.
“The CPF has been roped in to assist and the police promised to increase visibility in the area.
“All affected schools are also banding together to be a united front against crime plaguing the community.”
Mtima said the department had a national school safety framework in place to deal with safety issues at schools.
Naidu confirmed the police had met representatives from the education department.
“A meeting was held [on Monday] between Motherwell police, principals and the CPF,” she said.
“To ensure the safety of learners and teachers at schools, the CPF committed to play their part to mitigate further robberies.
“Police will be doing frequent patrols around the affected schools during opening and closing times.”
Naidu said principals would also inform police of extra classes after hours so that the relevant schools could be patrolled.
“Police will also check in on the teachers,” she said, adding that the CPF would facilitate public meetings around the schooling area.
Education expert Prof Susan van Rensburg said it was a crying shame the Bela Bill did not address school safety.
“The bill must be aligned with the constitution like the previous SA Schools Act,” Van Rensburg said.
“Basic tenets are the right to safety and security in school.
“If the government now holds these functions themselves, they need to link this to chapter two of the constitution and spell out how Bela will execute the functions that school governing bodies did previously concerning safety and security.”
Another education expert, Prof Jonathan Jansen, said the community had the right to draw attention to gaps in the bill.
“Instead of focusing on sex education and wrestling governance control away from parents, it needs to shift focus from middle-class school sensibilities to the crisis that engulfs schools like those in the northern areas.”
National Professional Teachers Organisation of SA (Naptosa) executive director Basil Manuel, meanwhile, said the intention of the bill was not just to focus on security.
He said it was difficult to legislate safety and security at schools because that fell under the policing system.
“As Naptosa we are saying it’s the obligation of the employer to keep teachers safe, but it’s the obligation of the education department to ensure learners are safe.
“It’s already there in law so you can’t enhance it any more.
“While we understand the unhappiness with the [crime] issues, I don’t believe the Bela Bill is the right place for it.”