Principals call for action on pupils’ safety

Schauderville school principals have raised concerns about the safety of pupils outside their premises and have urged residents, police and community forums to take charge of the streets and root out gangsterism.

Several principals echoed the sentiments of Paterson High School principal Sivan Pillay, who identified black children travelling to schools in the northern areas from around the city by taxi as the most vulnerable group.

All of the schools visited by a reporter on Friday reported incidents of pupils being robbed of money and cellphones – either by being threatened with a knife or at gunpoint – as they walked to the area’s two main taxi ranks in Ablett and Highfield roads.

Pillay commended the police for their heightened response since the establishment of the “Safer Schools” WhatsApp chat group in 2017, providing a direct link to the sector policing.

However, more needed to be done, he said.

“The police can’t be everywhere. However, more visible policing – particularly during the 7am to 8am and 2pm to 3pm periods – is needed.

“Not necessarily stationed at the schools, because the robberies are happening as they walk in the area.

“But the community itself needs to take responsibility for the area and the children – when you see crime report it.

“Everyone knows who the people are, because it is the same culprits all the time.

“The African children are being targeted because the robbers know they have at least R50. Parents also need to step up and put the kids in reliable transport that drops them at school.”

A teacher at David Livingstone High – who did not want to be named – said their most recent incident had occurred on Thursday when a pupil was robbed of her taxi fare.

“A lot of these incidents go unreported because the children are scared,” he said.

“They have to walk these streets daily and if it came out they reported an incident they would be stuck with even more issues,” he said.

“So many of them just hand over the money and keep quiet. It is easier and less risky to just keep quiet, so many do and just hope it doesn’t happen again too soon.”

De Vos Malan Primary School principal John Jansen said while pupils were safe during the school day – with the school having hired more security guards – they remained at risk before and after school.

“Having police around the school and the rest of the area a half-hour before and after school will assist,” Jansen said.

“Another problem is the latecomers. They are easy targets as they aren’t walking in big groups with the other children.”

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Alwin Labans said pupils should also avoid risky behaviour.

“We have noticed that many of these pupils are walking with their valuables – namely cellphones – in their hands, which lures potential robbers.

“With regard to the fear of reporting the crime, pupils should take up the incidents with their principals immediately after [they happen] and the principals will subsequently report it to us.

“Pupils should also avoid walking alone or in pairs.”

‘The police can’t be everywhere. However, more visible policing is needed Sivan Pillay

PATERSON HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

One of the most chilling elements of the scourge of robbery attacks on young schoolchildren on their way to and from school in the Bay, is that these frightening incidents go largely unreported. And that is simply because of fear – something with which many residents of the northern areas are only too familiar.

A child would sooner just hand over his or her cellphone or money and keep quiet, than report the matter to police and live under the even more fearsome shadow of reprisals.

In recent months, there has been a spate of such cowardly muggings of vulnerable children – especially those from other parts of the city attending school in the northern areas, because the thugs who target them know they are carrying taxi fare.

What is encouraging, albeit sadly necessary, is that schools have upped security measures, while a Schauderville principal has had praise for the police’s heightened response time since the introduction of a dedicated pupil safety chat group last year.

But schools can only provide so much protection in the immediate vicinity of their premises and the police can only be visible to a limited degree – which is why the community has to become the additional eyes and ears of the kids walking the streets.

Technology – for all its benefits – unfortunately has a hazardous side effect these days when it diminishes attention and acts as an advertisement. Parents have the responsibility of having a serious talk with their children about the dangers of being so distracted by a game or chat on their phone that they are unaware of their surroundings.

We shouldn’t have to worry so much about a child’s security in the simple activity of commuting to school.

But that is the harsh reality. We can curb this affliction by embedding in youngsters the golden rules of remaining vigilant and relying on safety in numbers. And these crimes must be reported – however discreetly necessary. Not to do so is to allow the perpetrators to continue their evil acts.