THE Gauteng Department of Education has set up a special committee to improve school safety and encourage pupils to report abuse.
The committee will be led by Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi, Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane and Premier David Makhura.
Makhura announced the committee in the provincial legislature yesterday while briefing MPLs about the measures the provincial government planned to take. This follows recent reports of sexual abuse at various schools.
Makhura said over the coming weeks, the committee would meet principals, SGBs, station commanders, community policing forums and patrollers to raise awareness and strengthen safety measures.
He said he was disappointed to learn about sexual abuse at schools.
“We are angered by these horrific crimes against our children which are committed at schools and in our communities,” said Makhura.
The premier said the sexual abuse of girls was part of the trend of women being raped and killed.
“We must confront this scourge with all the resources we have and bring the culprits to book.”
Makhura said police officers and members of the community needed to work together to protect children.
Nkosi-Malobane said suspects had been arrested in connection with the cases that recently came to light.
She said her department would be meeting with 6 000 scholar patrollers on Sunday and they would be rescreened.
The first case to make headlines was at AB Xuma Primary School in Orlando East, Soweto, where 87 pupils said a school patroller had sexually harassed them.
