The Western Cape has been identified as one of the four provinces requiring urgent intervention to curb violence in and around schools. This was revealed by the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, in Cape Town on Tuesday, at the launch of the Collaborative Implementation Protocol on School Safety.

The protocol, which is launched in collaboration with the Department of Basic Education, is aimed at tackling violence, crime, and insecurity in schools.

This comes as recently released crime statistics showed that 6 counts of murder were recorded as having taken place on the premises of educational institutions, with the Western Cape accounting for one.

Adittionally, 80 counts of rape were recorded to have occurred at the premises of educational institutions.

“our stats have shown an increasing number of incidents that happen, I’m not talking about incidents like children playing, I’m talking about violent incidents that take place in schools,” added Mchunu

The police ministry has identified four provinces with high crime levels, namely Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Eastern and Western Cape. Authorities will reprotedly focus on these identified “hotspot provinces” to reduce crime.

Minister Mchunu said the Western Cape is characterised by gang violence, drug trafficking and usage, illegal firearms, extortion and murders – which remains at an unacceptably high rate.

“Every day, our children are enticed into the grip of gangsterism, with false promises of status, money, and power. But we all know – there is no peace in that life. There is only pain, trauma, and destruction.”

More recently, in Samora Machel, four children were victims of murder in separate incidents, between the 22nd of May to the 11th of June (that is a three week time frame).

In another incident, a 19-year old Pretoria East pupil was stabbed to death by two other pupils that have since been arrested.

Mchunu emphasised that protecting learners’ rights to safety, dignity, and education is a constitutional duty. He stressed that school safety cannot be addressed by police alone—it requires a “whole-of-government, whole-of-society” approach, involving parents, communities, civil society, and schools.

The minister says the newly launched protocol seeks to bridge that gap. It formalises communication between schools and their nearest police stations to ensure quicker responses and better prevention.

“To fully give effect to this, we recognise the urgent need to ensure that our police stations are well resourced to adequately respond to incidents and that our policing is proactive, responsive, efficient and effective.”

The ministry have also put the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy (ICVPS) in place, which has been incorporated into the Protocol. This strategy is crucial in addressing the root causes of crime and violence in society, beyond the narrow scope of law enforcement.

The ICVPS requires a multi-sectoral approach, bringing together different government departments, civil society, and communities to address the socio-economic factors that contribute to criminal behaviour.

“This Protocol signifies the continuation of closer cooperation, stronger partnerships, and a renewed commitment to the wellbeing of our children.”

READ MORE: SAPS and Basic Education to Launch “Safe Schools Protocol”