A young girl was tragically killed by a stray bullet in Beacon Valley while waiting for her school ride. The incident has sparked outrage and a demand for enhanced school security and an increased police presence in the area to combat rising gang violence. The community has called for action and a protest to draw attention to the rampant crime in their neighborhood. The tragedy serves as a reminder of the urgent need to tackle crime and protect our children within learning institutions.
One of the notable incidents occurred at Parkfields Primary School, where thieves forcefully removed the locks from the bathroom doors and stole basins, chrome taps, and pipes from three separate restrooms. According to Bronagh Hammond, spokesperson for the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), the school has security personnel but on an irregular basis. An evaluation of security requirements will be carried out in response to this incident.
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has recently announced its plans to allocate over R76 million towards improving security measures in all schools across the province in the 2023/24 financial year budget. This budget, which includes significant infrastructure investment, teacher training programmes, and support plans amounting to R29.55 billion, is a major step towards creating a safer learning environment for students.
