By Nangamso Mabindla
18 June 2008

CRIME in schools is being targeted through school safety committees, launched by the provincial department for safety, liaison, roads and transport on Friday, 13 June.

They will focus on drawing up plans to improve safety levels and promote maximum participation from young people in crime prevention activities, with particular emphasis on xenophobic attacks, gender violence, drug abuse and building good community-police relations.

These committees will comprise the schools’ governing bodies, community policing forums and the South African Police Service; the schools’ principals will be committee conveners. Their launch formed part of safety, liaison, roads and transport MEC Thobile Mhlahlo’s Youth Month programme.

The department’s Bashir Hussain said that Buffalo Flats and Duncan Village were recently hit by school violence. “As we commemorate Youth Month it is important for the youth to be in the forefront in the fight against crime in our communities,” he said.

Hussain encouraged young people to avoid crime, especially ahead of the 2010 World Cup. “We will need marshals to help with safety and security during the tournament and before we employ anyone, we will screen them for criminal records. Anyone with a criminal record will not be considered,” Hussain explained.

Turning his attention to xenophobia, he said the youth needed to be educated about the role played by nationals of other African countries during the struggle for independence.

The committees’ role was to assess schools continuously, and to develop plans and programmes to improve safety and security in schools.

“This is part of the resolutions taken at the Safer Schools Summit held in East London in 2007. These [11] schools are the first of 40 that are earmarked to pilot the programme; if successful it will be implemented throughout the province.”

Wilmot Ngwanya, from the department of education, said his unit appreciated the efforts made by the safety and liaison department to ensure safer schools in Buffalo City and the rest of the province.

“The launch of these committees will strengthen the efforts of the provincial government in the fight against violence in our schools, especially in Duncan Village and Buffalo Flats, where levels of crimes are shocking,” he said, calling on parents to take a stand against violence.

The 11 schools that are starting the pilot programme are Archie Velile (Dimbaza), Kei Road Combined, Moses Mabhida, JF Mati, Masixole, Ulwazi, Sithembiso, Sinikiwe (Mdantsane), Qaqamba, Greenpoint and Uviwe (East London).

The launch was preceded by a Fun Run Against Crime, Xenophobia and Gender-Based Violence, which started at 9am at Buffalo Flats Cricket Grounds; it ended at Greenpoint High School. More than 100 runners took part.