Ninety-nine incidents of gang presence, gang shootings and gang threats had been reported to the Safe Schools call centre between January and May 11.
|||Cape Town - The number of gang-related incidents in and around Western Cape schools is on the increase, with three times as many incidents reported in the first term of this year compared to the same period last year.
While 21 incidents were reported during the first term of last year, 65 incidents were reported during the first term of this year, statistics made available by the Western Cape Education Department’s Safe Schools directorate has revealed.
Jessica Shelver, spokeswoman for Education MEC Debbie Schafer, said 99 incidents of gang presence, gang shootings and gang threats had been reported to the Safe Schools call centre between January and May 11 this year.
“Areas where the most incidents occurred include Bonteheuwel, with 12 incidents of gang presence, seven gang shootings and two gang threats; Manenberg reporting seven gang shooting and one gang threat; and Kalksteinfontein recording eight gang shootings,” Shelver said.
“The reality is that in the Western Cape we are faced with the scourge of gangsterism which is plaguing some of our communities. Unfortunately in communities where gangsterism is prominent, it can sometimes spill into our schools.”
She said the department was concerned about the number of gang-related incidents that was affecting children across the province.
In April, the Cape Argus reported how gang violence was taking its toll on teachers and children in Manenberg.
Some schools in the area reported pupil absenteeism levels of up to 63 percent and the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) said it was receiving messages from teachers who were fearing for their lives.
Manenberg Community Policing Forum (CPF) spokeswoman Roegshanda Pascoe said Manenberg had been suspiciously quiet in recent weeks.
“But there have been incidents where kids have been recruited into gangs. In this silence there are recruitments and then a gang war will rage.
“Students are being threatened and pulled into gangs at an early age. There is no alternative for the youth other than what they see in their environment.
“We have broken families dealing with a system that had failed them. This is the saddest of it all,” she said.
Graham Lindhorst, the CPF chairman for the Bonteheuwel, Valhalla Park, Kalksteinfontein and Bishop Lavis cluster said a gang infestation has been plaguing residents and nearby schools.
“Gang activity spills over into our schools. When gangsters shoot, they shoot around the school. People come onto the school and intimidate school kids. There is an increase of gang activity. So much so, that police have done interventions at schools to raise awareness in case of a shooting. Teachers are taught how to recognise youngsters being drawn into gangs.
“We want to make sure we counter gangs with awareness programmes for students and teachers. You often find in random police searches conducted on school premises that dangerous weapons are hidden away in kids’ school bags. They say it’s protection from rival gangs,” Lindhorst said.
Last week the Cape Argus reported three people, including a four-year-old boy, had been killed in Delft over the weekend.
Shelver said schools in Delft had not reported abnormal absenteeism levels as a result of the recent flare up.
“Safe Schools is supporting all schools in the Delft area and we have asked (police) to increase patrols and visibility when learners are travelling to and from school. Social workers and school psychologists are available to offer trauma counselling where needed.”
Shelver said that when there were reports of violence taking place in a certain area, schools had to implement their safety plan.
“In terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85/1993, every school must have a safety plan that meets local requirements, and a committee responsible for implementing the plan.”
She said the Safe Schools call centre ensured that the relevant authorities were alerted to deal with gang intimidation, threats and gang shootings around a school.
“The Western Cape Education Department, in partnership with the City of Cape Town, has also deployed School Resource Officers (SROs) to schools that have been identified as high risk.
“The SROs provide law enforcement services which include access control, search and seizure, as well as patrols. “They are also expected to identify and address, in collaboration with the principal and safety committee, the underlying problems at schools which might lead to disorder and crime.”
Among other things, their responsibilities include developing “safe movement corridors” in collaboration with neighbourhood watches, (police), metro police and other agencies, which allow pupils to travel to and from schools safely along agreed routes.
Sadtu provincial secretary Jonavon Rustin said the union had received a number of reports from teachers who felt unsafe at school as a result of gang activity.
ilse.fredericks@inl.co.za
Cape Argus