Township, rural schools soft targets for thugs

Unions say trained guards are needed

In the wake of brazen attacks on schools by thugs at several schools in KwazuluNatal, it has emerged that those acting as security guards are not trained and are ill-equipped to deal with criminals.

Some schools are said to have no security guards and rely on volunteer community members.

The National Teachers Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) said most schools affected by the shortage of security guards were no-fee schools serving predominantly poor communities.

“We are experiencing a crisis, more severe than ever. We are not only talking about physical security guards, but about basic things such as the fencing of schools, securing computer labs and the likes.

“Thugs are breaking in through ceilings stealing valuable learning materials,” said spokesperson Thirona Moodley.

She said most schools did

We are experiencing a crisis more severe than ever

not recover from the break-ins as they did not have funds to replace stolen items, which affected teaching and learning.

She said as an interim measure, the department should identify schools in hotspots and dispatch adequately trained security guards.

Naptosa’s sentiments come hot on the heels of an attack last week at Dassenhoek Secondary School in Pinetown, outside Durban, where thugs armed with guns and knives held teachers and pupils at gunpoint before stealing cellphones and other valuables.

About four pupils were severely injured when they attempted to fight the thugs off but were overpowered and stabbed.

National Teachers Union secretary Cynthia Barnes said: “Most security guards … are community members with no security training, and they are not paid by the department.

“The school governing body is the one responsible for paying the stipend.

“Once the funds are depleted, they are left vulnerable because they can no longer keep the person,” said Barnes.

Provincial MEC for education Kwazi Mshengu maintains that the war against crime is a societal responsibility, and not the department’s.