The Department of Basic Education (DBE) said it is up to communities to protect schools, teachers and learners, from a moral standpoint.
DBE spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga told Independent Media that the department was reliant on police in terms of policing, and said they have established a partnership to ensure that schools were connected to police stations and that both sectors worked together in crime prevention.
“From the education sector, we do our part through the curriculum to teach positive values that seek to cultivate harmony between communities.
“We work with and through school governing bodies to ensure that all role-players do their work of creating safe environments for teaching and learning,” Mhlanga said.
This week, the video of self-proclaimed prophet Paseka Motsoeneng, also known as Mboro, went viral on social media, showing him threatening teachers at a Gauteng school with two pangas.
Motsoeneng apparently did this just so his family member could leave the school with his children.
This shocking incident, which was captured in multiple videos that have gone viral on social media, happened at Matshidiso Primary School in Katlehong, east of Johannesburg, on Monday afternoon after school had been dismissed.
Soon after the incident went viral, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube expressed her shocked and also revealed that she had engaged with Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to conduct an urgent investigation by the SAPS.
Additionally, Gwarube said she had also spoken to the MEC in Gauteng, Matome Chiloane, to ensure that the learners, educators and staff at the school were provided with the requisite support.
“I am absolutely incensed by this attack on our schools, staff and learners. No one – absolutely no one – should break into schools with weapons interrupting teaching and learning time and terrorising children.
“Schools should be a place of safety, teaching and learning. This is why I’ve asked my colleague’s intervention on this matter.
“The SAPS must also ensure that the children are safe after this ordeal.
“I will continue to communicate as we receive feedback on this,” said the minister.
The National School Governing Board (SGB) Chairman Matakanye Matakanye said the both the SGB and the schools work with communities and also hire security companies for protection.
On areas such as Cape Town where schools and learners were exposed to criminality, Matakanye said the SGB would also hire Security and other community based organisations.
He also disclosed that the SGB had countless engagement with Basic Education on issues of school safety.
“We had two national conventions 2018 2019 discussing school safety.we resolved to work with police,police will cluster schools and monitor them however it does not work hence we mobilise community to take ownership of their schools,” Matakanye explained.
Meanwhile, Gauteng police commissioner Tommy Mthombeni said safety of schools was a top priority.
On Wednesday, Mboro made his first appearance at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court.
Pastor Mboro, who is a charismatic preacher, his son Vincent Revival Motsoeneng, 27, and bodyguard Clement Camillot Baloyi, 43, appeared in court but were not asked to plead. They were remanded in custody pending a bail hearing scheduled for August 16.
The trio are facing a variety of charges, including assault, handling a firearm recklessly that could endanger lives and property, rendering security services while not registered, malicious damage to property, assault and intimidation.
Mboro, along with his son and bodyguard, stormed the school premises and left with two boy grandchildren.
One of the children is in Grade RR and the other is in Grade 2.
The mother of the children apparently died in April, leading to a dispute between the paternal and maternal sides of the family over the custody of the children.
Saturday Star