Gauteng MEC warns schools are beset by violence, drugs and vandalism

Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile has warned that schools in the province are experiencing an alarming level of criminal and antisocial behaviour, saying the education system is increasingly reflecting wider societal crime patterns.

Thousands of incidents recorded over five years

Maile told the media that, according to departmental figures, schools across Gauteng recorded more than 4,600 incidents of violence and over 4,100 cases of vandalism during the period under review. The department also logged nearly 400 incidents of sexual misconduct and about 1,400 search-and-seizure operations.

High-risk schools and key threats

A provincial environmental scan profiled more than 1,300 schools and identified 245 high-risk schools. The department listed key risks as gang violence, bullying, substance abuse, sexual harassment, theft and vandalism.

MEC links school safety to broader social problems

Maile said the crisis is driven by a combination of factors, including gang activity and drug use, and framed school safety as part of wider community instability. He warned that “the high crime levels in the province are mirrored to a large extent in our schools.”

He added that unsafe school environments are undermining learning, noting that “learners cannot learn effectively in environments characterised by fear, intimidation or violence.”

Existing measures and the limits of security

The department has implemented interventions including the installation of CCTV at 606 schools and the deployment of private security to over 120 schools. Maile stressed that security measures alone are not enough and pointed to psychosocial support programmes reaching thousands of learners facing trauma, bullying and mental health challenges.

Call for community involvement and a revised strategy

Maile urged broader community participation, saying: “Schools are not merely government facilities. They are community institutions, centres of learning and symbols of hope for future generations.” He said the department is reviewing its school safety strategy, which is expected to be finalised in 2026, with a stronger focus on prevention, early intervention and community-led solutions.

What officials say this means for learners

The MEC described safe schools as both a security and educational imperative, and warned that persistent issues including violence, vandalism, substance-related incidents and learner misconduct continue to affect teaching and learning.