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The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Gauteng schools scale down security and anti-bullying programme
The department acknowledges that school managers often face intimidation when attempting to search for drugs or weapons. The Gauteng department of education has confirmed it has reduced reliance on private security services in schools, citing financial unsustainability. This was revealed by the department during a briefing to the Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries on Tuesday. Financial strain forces downscaling The department said while its patroller programme remains active, the private security guard initiative has been scaled down. 'The security guards programme has proven to be financially unsustainable and has been downscaled,' the department said in an update presented to the provincial legislature this week. In its place, the department continues to deploy school patrollers and is finalising a memorandum of understanding with the department of community safety to include traffic wardens as part of safety efforts. Most patrollers, recruited through Community Policing Forums (CPFs), have undergone screening by the South African Police Service (Saps). 'Though the screening process is slow, three-quarters of the cohort have been vetted and were further inducted by the Saps and CPFs,' the department noted. ALSO READ: Schools reopen: here's when prelims start for matrics Anti-bullying policy shelved The department also confirmed that implementation of its exemplar school anti-bullying policy has been delayed due to financial constraints. While schools are encouraged to adopt their codes of conduct, the policy's rollout and associated training workshops have not been activated. 'The exemplar policy is about to be mediated through training workshops, but could not be activated due to cost-cutting measures,' said the department. However, advocacy campaigns against bullying continue through partnerships with Saps, the department of social development and non-governmental organisations. Where bullying is reported, disciplinary action is taken. 'The perpetrators are held to account through disciplinary hearings resulting in expulsions,' the department said, stressing that the South African Schools Act empowers school governing bodies to take strong action. ALSO READ: Overcrowding and shortage of toilets: Here's how many pupils share a classroom in Gauteng Weapons and drugs in schools remain a concern The department acknowledged that school managers often face intimidation when attempting to search for drugs or weapons. 'Evidence from the ground indicates that many school managers undergo serious intimidation and are reluctant to enforce such responsibility,' the department said. Nonetheless, schools are permitted to search pupils if there is reasonable suspicion, in collaboration with Saps and other partners. The department continues to run awareness campaigns to discourage substance abuse and violence in schools. 'The department works in partnership with Saps through search and seizure and disciplinary processes to deal with pupils in conflict with the law,' it said. NOW READ: These are the Gauteng school application walk-in centres
IOL News
30-05-2025
- IOL News
Community remembers Brigadier Leon Matthysen: A dedicated Durban policeman
Durban policeman Brigadier Leon Matthysen passed away from a heart attack on Wednesday. Image: Supplied Tributes continue to pour in for Durban policeman Brigadier Leon Matthysen, who passed away from a heart attack on Wednesday, sending shockwaves through the community. Matthysen was the station commander and head of crime prevention at several police stations in KwaZulu-Natal during his career. In 2023, he was appointed as the station commander of Pinetown SAPS. On Thursday, the community, Community Policing Forums (CPF), and Private security companies held a memorial drive from Kloof to Pinetown police station in memory of Matthysen. Andreas Mathios of Marshall Security said people came out in their numbers, which was a testament to the deep respect and admiration 'we held in our hearts' for Matthysen. 'He was the ultimate example of South Africa's finest, a true top cop whose integrity, courage, and unwavering commitment to justice set him apart. He did not just wear the uniform, he honoured it, and in doing so, earned the trust and respect of the community he served,' Mathios said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Aidan David, the chairperson of eThekwini District Police Board and Provincial Board treasurer, spoke of the memories he had of Matthysen, including the support he showed to the CPFs. David said wherever Matthysen's career had taken him, he always touched the lives of people and made them feel safe. According to him, Matthysen always supported the CPFs and believed that crime cannot be solved without the input from the community. David said that Matthysen left an indelible mark as one of the best station commanders that Isipingo SAPS has ever had, adding that he was an officer who never liked to be office-bound. 'He used to always sit at the back of the SAPS kombi with the door open, and he would make the young officers like Constable Donald Naidoo drive through the CBD of Isipingo and do patrols. Before the van could stop, if he saw a suspect breaking the law, he would spring out of that moving van and pounce on the suspects, and before they knew what happened, they would be apprehended by Brigadier Matthysen,' David recalled. David said that for the police officers patrolling with Matthysen, it was like an action scene from a movie. 'This kind of dedication and guts kept the people of Isipingo safe, and he really cleaned up our town of Isipingo and left us to take office with his promotion elsewhere,' David said. Police officers paid tribute to Brigadier Leon Matthysen at the Pinetown police station. Image: Andreas Mathios
