The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Northern Cape, the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison have formalised their co-operative partnership through a signed agreement known as the Collaborative Protocol on the Prevention of Crime and Violence in schools. This Protocol, sets out the framework for close inter-departmental co-ordination in order to create Safe, Caring and Child Friendly Schools, in which quality learning and teaching can take place.
The launch was held at the Gaegake Primary School, Maruping-Kuruman, in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District .The aims of this protocol are to develop and support the implementation of school-based crime prevention and aim to:
a) Strengthen School Safety Committees to curb crime and violence in schools;
b) Encourage all role players at school and communities to play an active role as members of School Safety Committees;
c) Link all schools to local Police Stations;
d) Establish reporting systems at schools;
e) Raise awareness amongst learners regarding crime and violence and its impact on individuals, families and education;
f) Establish a school-based crime prevention service and interventions, which will deter potential offenders and empower potential victims and past victims;
g) Extend crime prevention programmes to Early Childhood Development Centres in order to raise awareness amongst young children;
h) Mobilise communities to take ownership of schools; and
i) To promote the image of the South African Police Service, and to build positive relationships between schools, police stations, children, school communities and the police.
The recent spates of violence in schools are a matter of great concern as these incidents undermine the creation of safe, caring as well as child and educator friendly environments where effective teaching and learning can take place
In light of the above mentioned, the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in the Northern Cape, Lieutenant General Risimati Shivuri assured the communities of John Taolo Gaetsewe district that the concerns raised by parents and community members during the recent community engagement in Wrenchville regarding bullying, victimization or any other crime perpetrated against or by fellow learners at schools will not be tolerated.
Local police stations will be linked to all schools in the area and the “Adopt-a-Cop” will visit, interact and implement various Crime Education Awareness programmes including the Junior Commissioners Project. Search and seizures operations will be conducted at schools to rid them of drugs, firearms and dangerous weapons that are being used to perpetrate crime on school premises endangering the lives of the learners and educators.
“As a collaborative effort, we will claim back our schools and ensure a safe and conducive environment for all educators and learners”, so concluded the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Risimati Shivuri.