Zuko Komisa

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube have launched the Safe Schools Protocol.
This new collaborative implementation protocol between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Basic Education (DBE) aims to create safer learning environments for students and staff nationwide.
The launch comes as alarming statistics reveal 283 schools in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and Western Cape have been identified as hotspots for violence.
Minister Mchunu expressed deep concern over these figures, emphasizing that unsafe schools undermine the fundamental right to education and development for children.
“Our country’s future rests in the hands of our children… a solid education is the foundation of that good life,” Mchunu stated at the Tuesday launch in Cape Town.
He highlighted the importance of protecting the constitutional rights to safety, dignity, and education within every school.
Minister Gwarube underscored the authority of school governing bodies to take disciplinary action, including expulsion, against disruptive and violent pupils, utilizing their existing codes of conduct.
Point of View with Phemelo spoke to Minister Gwarube about government’s school safety plans.
Listen to the full conversation here:
Gwarube highlighted that newly unveiled protocol is designed as a practical guide for urgent action across all districts, provinces, and schools. Building on a 2011 partnership between SAPS and DBE, the updated protocol clarifies roles and responsibilities to ensure effective execution at the local level.
Key objectives of the protocol include:
- Promoting collaboration between the DBE and SAPS for early violence prevention.
- Connecting schools with local police stations for swift responses to incidents.
- Conducting searches and seizures in accordance with the South African Schools Act (SASA) when illegal substances or weapons are suspected.
- Combatting social ills such as school-related Gender-Based Violence, sexual abuse, alcohol and drug use, and gangsterism.
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