20 September 2018

The Deputy Minister of Police, Mr Bongani Mkongi in his Budget Vote Debate Speech on the 15 May 2018 stated that "our country continues to bury its children," citing the incidents of brutal killings reported in our learning institutions.

The Deputy Minister cautioned that if we continue along this path, it will not be the last.

It is in this regard that the Deputy Minister of Police calls on all Stakeholders in the Education Sector to recommit to take the matters of school Safety seriously.

He calls on all Stakeholders in the Education sector to recommit in finding sustainable solutions to these toxic violent situations in our schools in particular and in our higher education institutions in general.

It is the view of the Deputy Minister that school and campus safety is often characterised as a critical obstacle to learning and teaching environment including health, sport and leisure.

Hence crime, violence and abuse affects all our people including the communities these learners come from.

Recently reported incidents of violence in our schools and campuses in our country are sending excruciating shockwaves throughout the inner soul of the existence of the Republic of South Africa.

At different levels the Department of Education and the Department of Police collaborate and partner in initiatives that prevent, manage, and respond to incidents of crime and violence in Schools.

In June last year the Ministry of Police through the Deputy Minister of Police met with the Deputy Minister of Basic Education Mr Mohamed Enver Surty and the then Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Mr Mdududzi Manana to discuss crime, violence, abuse of girl child and young women in Schools and in our Institutions of Higher Learning.

Most importantly the inter-ministerial engagement was significant because it created a unity of purpose in government’s continued attempts of ensuring safe and non-violent learning environment.

The task of creating safe and non-violent learning environment will require all Role players to play a pivotal role and give support to joint efforts by all sectors of society in the fight against crime.

The Deputy Minister also invites all stakeholders especially the South African Democratic Teachers Unions (SADTU) and all other trade unions for Teachers to come on board and support government in its endeavour to bring peace, harmony at all our schools and universities.

We call upon all our stakeholders and concerned South Africans especially the Student Representative Councils, The Representative Councils of Learners, the School Governing Bodies, the University Councils including experts in the Education Sector to come to the party to support and participate in the upcoming School and Campus Safety Summit, The Campus and School Safety Summit is aimed at inviting all Stakeholders to make a constructive and meaningful contribution towards safer schools and universities

Issued by the office of the Deputy Minister of Police, Mr Bongani Mkongi

Enquiries :

Siyabulela Tom : 0722073518

Brigadier Vish Naidoo : 0825674153
(South African Police Service)