The previously established National School Safety Framework (NSSF) remains the primary strategic response to deal with school violence, even after the number of cases of rape and murder, committed on school premises, increased. 

In the first quarter of the 2022/23 financial year, crime statistics show that within three months (1 April to 30 June), 58 cases of rape and 15 of murder were reported on the premises of Basic Education schools; five rape cases at special schools; and one rape and one murder case at crèche premises.

The Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga was asked by DA Member in the National Assembly, Désirée van der Walt, to outline measures that have been put in place following statistics that have been released by the SA Police Services (SAPS).

Motshekga, in her reply, explained that the NSSF remains the department’s primary strategic response because "it is a comprehensive approach that coordinates and consolidates all school safety interventions in the sector".

The NSSF is explained to be based on a social ecological systems model which locates the school within its broader community. “It relies on collaboration and partnerships for a more coordinated approach to responding to school violence.”

Motshekga says that unsafe learning environments and exposure to violence reduce the quality of education for all learners.

“Learners and educators, including support staff who are exposed to violence, are at increased risks of anxiety, psychological stress and depression, and because of this, the department undertakes a quarterly district monitoring exercise on all safety in education, sport, including enrichment in education and social cohesion and equity in education programmes. With the monitoring that happens quarterly, the department targets 75 districts per financial year.”

In Motshekga’s reply she supplied the NSSF outline within which:

•             All schools have active school safety committees and school safety plans, based on an audit of needs, are in place and reviewed frequently;

•             Schools’ perimeter is secured (fenced) and access controls (guard and/or surveillance) are in place and managed. The 2018/19 infrastructure audit of schools’ fencing coverage highlights the schools that need to be prioritised;

•             Schools’ codes of conduct are aligned with the Constitution of South Africa and child-protection legislation; and is communicated and agreed to by all school stakeholders;

•             Corporal punishment is prohibited by law and alternatives on positive discipline are implemented in all schools;

•             Protocols are in place to enforce consequence management timeously and is consistently applied when responding to contraventions that put the learning environment at risk;

•             Schools have systems in place to report violent incidences and criminal behaviour at local police stations as well as district and provincial office bearers and the South African Council for Educators (SACE);

•             Schools have established relationships with their intergovernmental counterparts, namely the Departments of Social Development, Health and Justice, to progressively ensure services such as counselling services, medical examinations and access to justice are effective and in the best interest of the child.

OFM News/Tshehla Koteli