Central SA
Northern Cape launches school safety project─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 09:14 Wed, 21 Jun 2023
The Northern Cape Department of Education has taken strides to address safety challenges at schools.
While delivering his budget vote at the Provincial Legislature in Kimberley in the Northern Cape, the MEC for Education, Zolile Monakali, said the department has had to make repairs costing R41 million due to theft and vandalism, especially during school holidays. He added that his department, together with SAPS and the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison, signed the School Safety Implementation Protocol which continues to guide their approach in terms of school safety.
“We have identified 85 high-risk schools in the province, where burglaries, vandalism, and theft are happening regularly and have reached unacceptable high levels,” Monakali said.
The department will appoint 400 safety volunteers in these schools at a cost of R20 million for this financial year, which will be launched in the first week of September. School safety volunteers hired by the department will receive training and a monthly stipend of R3 000.
Monakali said this will not only address the safety challenges in schools but also reduce unemployment and create a positive impact on the community since residents will become actively involved in education.
