What lies ahead for SA if our schools have become war zones?

In her classic masterpiece, Greatest Love of All, the late Whitney Houston begins with a verse that speaks to the preciousness of children, and that they are our future.

She goes on to say: “Teach them well and let them lead the way/Show them all the beauty they possess inside/Give them a sense of pride to make it easier/Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be.”

Over the last few days, I have frequently found myself thinking deeply about her song.

Two incidents occurred that have made me reflect on the sentiment that children are our treasure and future, and what this means for what lies ahead for SA.

Last Friday, a 13-year-old pupil from Primrose Hill Primary School in Germiston in the Gauteng was arrested for allegedly shooting his principal.

According to the Gauteng education department, the school principal saw pupils sitting in the foyer and instructed them to take out their workbooks to study.

The pupil, who is in Grade 6, mumbled something in response, but the principal ignored him.

Later, the principal came across the same pupil near the staff room and that was when the child opened fire, shooting the principal, who was immediately rushed to hospital.

Reports indicate that he is in a stable condition.

In the same Ekurhuleni region in Gauteng, it has been reported that teachers at William Hills and Liverpool secondary schools in Benoni are resigning from their jobs due to escalating gang violence at the schools.

One teacher, who spoke to the media on condition of anonymity, shared his story of how he battled with debilitating anxiety attacks whenever he had to go to work, wondering whether he would return home alive.

It is said that gang members, many of whom are pupils, come to the schools armed with guns, and openly smoke drugs and consume alcohol on the school premises.

Another teacher, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said that teaching at William Hills Secondary School was like guarding dangerous prison inmates.

She resigned after she was sexually violated by a Grade 10 pupil in full view of the class.

The pupil went on to threaten the teacher that he would rape her, and when she reported him to the principal, he threatened that he would send his gangster friends to deal with her.

In the same school, the deputy principal was allegedly physically assaulted by pupils.

It is reported that she was dragged through the school grounds by a violent group of pupils.

As she lay on the floor, she was sprayed in the face with a fire extinguisher.

This happened in full view of other pupils and teachers.

The deputy principal was hospitalised for some time and never returned to the school.

Teachers are not the only ones who are affected by the violence.

There are reports of pupils dropping out of school due to being afraid of gangsters in the form of their fellow classmates.

In addition, many traumatised and anxious pupils are performing poorly academically due to the violence they have to endure.

The situation is made worse by the fact that their own homes offer little reprieve as they live in communities where the problems of substance abuse and gang violence manifest.

Sadly, while the drug dealers and gang members are known to the community, everyone is afraid to report them as they fear retaliation.

This is understandable given the reality that many criminals are granted bail while investigations are under way, and even in cases where they are convicted, the sentences are often lenient. This puts witnesses at risk.

There was a time when schools were a refuge from societal problems.

It should concern all of us that schools have been turned into war zones.

More than this, it should force us into action.

The starting point is parental involvement in schooling as well as active participation in civic organisations that are doing work to empower young people and combat crime.

This includes supporting community policing forums with resources, material and non-material to carry out their duties.

We must strive to create safer communities because the cost of doing nothing is a future where our children will be our rapists and killers.