News24 reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) has requested the Gauteng Department of Education to review its schools' safety strategy following the recent spate of violent crimes in schools.

According to a written reply by the Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, to the DA, there were 40 stabbings, 10 shootings and 16 other violent crimes involving learners and teachers in the province in the past five years. In addition, the department recorded six incidents involving gangsterism. A total of 45 incidents occurred because of learner-on-learner violence, one due to teacher-to-teacher violence, six due to learner-on-teacher violence, and four incidents resulting from teacher-on-learner violence. Outsiders also killed eight learners and four teachers. According to DA Gauteng spokesperson for education Khume Ramulifho, schools are unsafe and there is an urgent need to review the current schools' safety strategy. Regarding convictions for the crimes, the department responded that, to date, there was only one conviction known to it. "The DA proposes that MEC Chiloane engage Gauteng MEC for Community Safety and Security, Faith Mazibuko, to ensure that school safety is prioritised and these incidents are investigated to ensure justice for the victims and their families," Ramulifho put forward.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Mthethwa at News24
• Lees ook, ‘Gautengse skole g’n veilige hawe’, by Maroela Media

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