‘Strong disciplinary action awaits those who turn schools into terror zones’
The MEC for Community Safety, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya has issued a stern warning to learners who bully others and bring dangerous weapons to school.
LIMPOPO – The MEC’s warning comes after a series of criminal activities, ranging from bullying to assault, and possession of dangerous weapons and drugs, have become a matter of great concern at schools around Limpopo.
The Limpopo police say they will no longer be a spectator to what they term a “criminal monster” that is turning schools into zones of terror. According to the MEC, school safety is high on their priority list, and learners who disturb the peace will be subjected to strong disciplinary action, according to the Child Justice Act.
“Schools are a place of learning, not a battlefield for crime. Learners are supposed to carry books and other learning aids to school, not weapons such as guns and knives. We will not tolerate this behaviour, because we want harmony at our schools, where learning should take place.
“Our job is to protect learners, but if something goes wrong, we have no alternative but to arrest the perpetrators and allow the law to take its own course,” she warned.
Lerule-Ramakhanya urged teachers, parents, learners and residents to inform the police immediately if they suspect children of carrying dangerous weapons to school.
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“The police alone cannot win this war, and it is our collective duty to eradicate crime at our schools. If defiant learners are reported to us, we will take the necessary steps for the sake of better education in our society,” she said.She said there was wide concern over persons who sell liquor to learners.
“Can you imagine a learner dressed in school uniform, queuing at the bottle store for beer? We understand that the liquor outlet owners are in business, but they are supposed to send the children away because they are underage. “She mentioned that the department was proud of the support and cooperation the department has received from schools in making the police’s work of eradicating crime somewhat lighter.
“We are all striving for a common goal, and that is to make our schools a better place,” she concluded.
