Gauteng flags 245 schools as high risk amid violence, drugs and bullying

Gauteng’s education department has identified 245 high‑risk schools after an environmental analysis found rising incidents of gang violence, bullying, substance abuse and vandalism in school communities.

How the risk assessment was done

The department commissioned the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance to conduct an environmental analysis of crime and violence in schools. The study profiled more than 1 300 schools and flagged 245 as high‑risk.

Problems linked to broader community conditions

The department said safety challenges in schools were closely tied to community problems. In a statement it said:

“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,”

and added these pressures were “increasingly finding expression within our school environments”.

Community concerns reported to the department

Through its Thuto Pele engagement programme, the department said school governing bodies and principals repeatedly raised issues including criminal activity in communities, inadequate security infrastructure, damaged fencing, poor lighting, vandalism and burglaries, which they said affected schools’ ability to provide safe learning environments.

Mental health and learner support

The department highlighted a growing mental health burden among learners. Through its partnership with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag), interventions reached more than 11 000 students and more than 150 teachers in April 2026 alone.

The department also cited the Isibindi Ezikoleni Programme, which operates across 30 schools and has reached more than 35 000 pupils through awareness and targeted support programmes.

Security measures and broader approach

As immediate measures, the department deployed private security to 121 schools and installed CCTV systems at 606 schools. It has also partnered with Vodacom on a school surveillance project.

Despite these steps, the department said that

“the department recognises that school safety cannot be achieved through security measures alone,”

and that

“sustainable solutions require a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of violence, anti‑social behaviour and criminal activity”.

Strategy and next steps

The department noted that a revised School Safety Strategy, under review since 2024, is expected to be finalised in 2026. It emphasised that government cannot bear the entire burden, saying:

“Learners cannot learn effectively in environments characterised by fear, intimidation or violence. Educators cannot teach optimally in unsafe conditions,”

and that “safe schools are therefore not only a security imperative, but an educational imperative.”