The Star reports that the Gauteng Department of Education has come under fire for removing trained security guards from high-risk schools, leaving students and staff vulnerable to gang violence, theft, and even fatal attacks.

With schools already battered by vandalism, fires, and shootings, critics are calling the decision reckless and dangerously shortsighted. Just last month, a principal and administrator at Enxiweni Primary School in Tembisa were shot dead on school grounds. In a written response to questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, GDE MEC Matome Chiloane admitted that the department did not assess the financial or safety implications of withdrawing security guards. He explained that security interventions were always intended to be temporary and that additional measures, including patrollers, wardens, the Adopt-a-Cop Programme, and trained SGB safety committees, had been implemented to stabilise schools. He opined that future budgets could allow longer-term security interventions.

Michael Waters, DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Education, slammed the department’s decision as “gross negligence,” vowing to demand the immediate reinstatement of accredited security guards at high-risk schools. He also criticised the replacement of trained guards with unaccredited patrollers who were not deployed after hours, on weekends, or during school holidays, leaving schools dangerously exposed.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Masabata Mkwananzi at The Star

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