Gauteng boosts school security with CCTV, targeted protection after surge in violence

Gauteng’s education department has announced a package of safety measures for public schools after reporting increased incidents of stabbings, vandalism and the burning of school infrastructure.

What the provincial plan includes

At a media briefing in Braamley, Gauteng MEC for Education, Lebogang Maile, unveiled a set of interventions intended to strengthen security at schools across the province. The plan includes enhanced security support for 422 schools, the installation of CCTV at 606 educational institutions, and additional protection for 121 high‑risk schools in collaboration with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and corporate partners.

Why the measures are being introduced

The measures respond to a reported rise in violent incidents affecting school communities. Maile highlighted several issues raised by communities, including bullying, learner‑on‑learner violence, substance abuse, vandalism and criminal activity around schools.

“School safety cannot be separated from the broader social realities of challenges relating to crime, violence, substance abuse, and social instability that confront South Africa, which continue to affect communities and are increasingly finding expression within our school environment,” stated Maile.

Maile linked fear and intimidation to obstacles for teaching and learning and said that safe schools are not only a security imperative, but an educational imperative.

Recent incidents and strategic response

Maile said the interventions come in the wake of a recent fatal stabbing: an 18‑year‑old Grade 10 learner from Mokgome Secondary School died after being stabbed in Braamfischerville, near Soweto. He framed the department’s response as part of a wider effort to address community‑level problems that are impacting schools.

Shifting toward prevention and technology

The Gauteng Department of Education is reviewing its School Safety Strategy. According to Maile, the review aims to augment existing measures with an emphasis on prevention, better coordination, and tech‑driven solutions, moving towards a more proactive model of safety.

Maile reiterated that community concerns around safety consistently emerge as a top priority for school environments and said the department is responding with targeted security interventions and strategic planning.