Teachers' unions say the KwaZulu-Natal education department has ignored calls to provide safe environments for teachers and pupils.
This comes after three violent incidents at schools in two days.
On Tuesday a group of criminals stormed the Mukelani Primary School in KwaMashu, north of Durban, and robbed teachers of their valuables. They also forced them to transfer money from their banking apps.
A day before, Dudu Khumalo, a grade R teacher at Phikiswayo Primary School in Ntuzuma, was shot dead by two criminals inside school premises in front of pupils and fellow teachers.
In the third incident, a 21-year-old matric pupil from Isihlahlasenkosi High School in Nongoma, northern KwaZulu-Natal, was fatally stabbed after he allegedly attacked other pupils on Monday.
Police spokesperson Lt-Col Robert Netshiunda said a 15-year-old grade 10 learner is under police guard in hospital after his arrest for allegedly stabbing and killing the matric pupil.
He said the 21-year-old had a fight with boys from a neighbouring village at the weekend. On Monday he reportedly went into a grade 10 class with a knife which led to another fight in which the 21-year-old was stabbed in the neck. The 15-year-old was injured when he was hit by a brick.
These incidents have raised alarm within the province and with the education department being allocated the lion's share of R62bn of the R151bn provincial budget, stakeholders have reiterated calls for stronger safety and security measures in schools.
The DA, ActionSA and the EFF are among the parties who have called for school safety to be prioritised.
The department said it will convene a school safety conference with learners, educators, parents and the public at large because of the recent spike in school related violence, though it didn’t provide any details.
“Schools are considered sacred places of teaching and learning and as such, we as a department are very concerned about the recent rise in the levels of school violence that has sent shock waves across the province. We have to work with all stakeholders including law enforcement agencies to curb the rise in school violence and crime,” said MEC Sipho Hlomuka.
That, however, has done little to convince the teachers’ unions.
The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) said concerns have been flagged repeatedly, but the department had not shown any indication it was attending to them with any urgency.
It said it had listed safety and security in a memorandum it presented to former premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube and then-education MEC Mbali Frazer during a march in October.
“However, up until this time, regardless of Sadtu's numerous calls to have a school safety and security indaba to discuss and come up with possible programmes to deal with this pandemic, the department seems to have a low appetite in attending to this while our members continue to be the subject of crime and the sacrificial lambs of killers.”
The Public Servants Association (PSA) called for the intervention of the KZN premier, the department and provincial police commissioner.
“The lack of significant and effective measures by relevant departments and communities is a glaring matter that demands immediate attention.”
“Several public servants in KZN have been killed in the line of duty, highlighting the pressing need for a comprehensive and strategic response to this crisis. The PSA demands stringent and effective interventions be implemented without delay.”
The National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) believes the department's budget is a serious cause for concern.
“Unfortunately the department is constantly underfunded and cannot meet the basic needs of the department. School safety is not high on the agenda of the department as there are competing interests. The department must reprioritise the budget and reconsider the budget for school safety,” said spokesperson Thirona Moodley.
Moodley said the recent events have proved one security guard at a gate was not enough for schools any more.
She also called on communities to assist in identifying criminals, even if they report them anonymously.
Sadtu also called on schools to support its “I am a school fan” campaign aimed at making places of learning “safe havens for both learners and teachers”.
“It is in communities taking ownership of schools and acknowledging that education workers are community workers and they need full protection and support, that we realise such an envisaged dream.”
