ACDP says crime and violence in schools has always been a shared responsibility

MEDIA RELEASE
Cheryllyn Dudley MP
13th August 2013

ACDP says crime and violence in schools has always been a shared responsibility

•         commends and encourages DBE & SAPS renewed efforts
•         concerned decisive efforts have taken too long


The ACDP welcomes increased efforts by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to promote and prioritise the school-based crime prevention programme.  “Safety in schools must be a top priority and the ACDP supports all efforts to prevent young people from involving themselves in criminal activities” ACDP MP Cheryllyn Dudley said.

DBE Deputy Minister Surty said the aim of the Partnership Protocol signed on 11 April 2011, is to render a ‘school-based crime prevention service that is pro-active, to build and promote cordial and positive relationships between schools, police stations, children in general, communities and the police’. The Deputy Minister of Police Ms Sotyu emphasised that the protocol is important for its ‘clear guidelines on how and who responds in situations of crime at schools’, and to ‘instil sound values for the positive development of young people into responsible citizens who revere the constitution’.

The main objective is to establish ‘safe school committees’ across the country.

ACDP MP Cheryllyn Dudley said: “The issue of crime and violence in our schools is a shared responsibility and these two government departments are best placed to tackle the problem – this however has always been the case and while the ACDP commends and encourages the two departments in their efforts we are concerned that they have taken so long to move decisively on this important initiative”!