Durban - The IFP has called upon retired police officers, teachers and academics to establish and capacitate existing neighbourhood watch forums to oversee security in schools.
The call comes after another violent incident at a Pietermaritzburg school on Wednesday.
The IFP Member of Provincial Legislature Thembeni KaMadlopha-Mthethwa expressed the party’s concern about a rise in criminal incidents in the province.
“The IFP is deeply concerned that schools are fast becoming a playground for criminals and criminal activities in Pietermaritzburg and surrounds,” the MPL said yesterday in reference to a shooting incident inside at Alston Primary School on Wednesday.
It is alleged that an intruder allegedly stabbed the security guard, seized his gun and started firing as normal school day activity was under way.
The incident comes just days after another incident occurred at Northbury Secondary School in which a pupil allegedly set a teacher’s car on fire after being reprimanded for using a cellphone during teaching hours.
The IFP MPL also noted that a principal of Msunduzi Secondary School was also shot multiple times and died on school premises a few weeks ago.
“It has become clear that the police capacity is insufficient to ensure visibility in most areas. The IFP in KZN Legislature therefore calls for the activation of neighbourhood watch forums – with the assistance of police – to provide additional security to local schools,” KaMadlopha-Mthethwa said.
She said KZN communities could no longer afford to sit with arms folded while schools became war zones and crime scenes.
“It is our shared responsibility to protect our children’s futures, and those of generations to come,” the MPL said.
KZN schools have witnessed a number of violent incidents in recent times, including the torching of classes, prompting calls from Members of Provincial Legislature for a multi-stakeholder gathering to discuss ways of dealing with the spate of violence in schools.