82 Resource officers deployed tackle gang violence in schools

in the wake of violence and gangsterism gripping Cape Town and spilling onto school grounds, MEC for Education David Maynier revealed that 82 School Resource Officers have been deployed to high-risk areas.

They have made a dent, conducting 8508 searches, confiscating 6480 items, and visited 4 844 schools between January and June.

Last week the department said they received 454 reports of incidents of assault on school property between January and July involving learners while National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA) reported that 563 children have fallen victim to violence due to ongoing gang wars which have spilled over into the classroom.

The news comes just days after a 14-year-old boy was shot and killed on September 19, while walking home from school in Elsies River in what police spokesperson, Captain FC Van Wyk described as gang-related.

Van Wyk said five suspects, between the ages of 16 and 30-years-old are expected to make an appearance at the Goodwood Magistrates’ Court on Monday on charges relating to the teen’s murder.

The murder is one of nearly 500 recorded in the Western Cape over the past six months with more than 70% taking place in 13 policing precincts which includes Elsies River, Bishop Lavis and Mitchells Plain.

This was announced by Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia during a National Assembly session.

Maynier said they had witnessed a range of safety incidents in and around schools, from shootings and violence in the surrounding community, to fights and assaults within schools.

“The reality is that SAPS is under-resourced and underfunded in the Western Cape, and severe crime and gang activity will continue to be a daily reality until this is addressed. But we all have a role to play in responding to this problem, and the Western Cape Government has invested in initiatives to improve safety and target the underlying causes of violence.

“Sadly, the socio-economic realities of many of our communities spill over into our schools, and problem behaviour established in the home becomes problem behaviour in our classrooms. 

“We have partnered with the City of Cape Town to fund 82 School Resource Officers to operate in schools in high risk areas. These specialised law enforcement officers tackle safety issues directly and practically within the school environment, and build strong relationships with our school communities.

“They are making a real difference: in the first six months of this year, they have already undertaken 8 508 searches, performed 6 480 confiscations, done 4 844 school visits, issued 401 fines, and made 10 arrests.”

He added that the proliferation of fake news about gang-related violence and shooting incidents, impacted the functioning of schools.

Khalid Sayed, ANC leader in the Western Cape Provincial Legislature said policing was not only an enforcement issue when it came to schools. 

"We believe that a whole-of-society approach, as emphasised in the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy (ICVPS) led by the national government, offers a more sustainable way forward. The ICVPS recognises that crime and violence cannot be solved by policing alone, prevention and early intervention are essential.”

Grant Harmse, National Head of Communications for People’s Movement for Change said community intervention was needed.

“As a parent with children in public schools within these communities I would want a dual approach, strong security and immediate protection for children, combined with mental health, mentorship, and community programs to address the root causes of violence,” he stated.

Yasierah Adonis for NAPTOSA said the crisis was also attributed to the socio-economic statuses facing communities: “A young person is less likely to pick up a gun if they are dignified and have a payslip."

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