WCED SAFETY AT SCHOOLS IN THE WESTERN CAPE

1. WCEDSAFETY ATSCHOOLS IN THE WESTERN CAPE IMPACT OF GANGSTERISM ON SCHOOLING WCED :Safe Schools

2. CONTEXTUALISING THE CHALLENGE • Gangs emerge from the local community . • SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS Poverty Unemployment /low income employment Poor living conditions • LEARNER BEHAVIOUR Early anti-social behaviour Poor academic performance/Learning difficulties Truancy / Drop outs WCED :Safe Schools

3. FAMILY SITUATIONS Single parent families No adult supervision Physical abuse Alcohol and drug abuse Poor role models • GANGS PROVIDE FOR THEIR NEEDS Vulnerable learners are targeted. Provide power and protection Gangs provide glamorous lifestyles . WCED :Safe Schools

4. Types of gangs . • Street Defence • Family Mafia • Syndicate • Prison Gangs WCED :Safe Schools

5. Why is the school such a lucrative environment ? • Gangs provide money and draw needy families . Cell phones ,cars ,gold chains , food , rent • Sense of belonging . • Protection • Turf for drug dealing • Prostitution WCED :Safe Schools

6. The impact of gang violence on schools • External activities . Gangs choose the arrival and departure times of teachers and learners to begin the shoot-outs . Safety drills (stop,drop and roll )impact on emotions. • Traumatized educators and learners are fearful and terrorised • Educators need time out for severe stress and trauma debriefing. • Perceived allegiance -determined by where you live. • Parent ,Governing Body meetings and extra-mural activities cannot take place . WCED :Safe Schools

7. INTERNAL ACTIVITIES • Gang involvement of learners impact on restriction • of movements when rival gangs frequent turf • like tuck shops or toilets . • Threats to educators by learners involved in gang • activity . • Graffiti on school premises. WCED :Safe Schools

8. What does Safe Schools have inplace ? OBJECTIVES • ENVIRONMENTAL • ATTITUDAL / BEHAVIOURAL • SYSTEMIC WCED :Safe Schools

9. Drugs • WCED is currently busy with a protocol in line with • the National Drug Policy. • Drug trafficking is a criminal offence - inform • SAPS , Municipalities and other key role players . • Safe Schools in partnership with Bridges supported • schools with Information , intervention • and educational programmes for parents , school • policies and referrals . WCED :Safe Schools

10. MANAGING SAFETY AND CRISES • Reactive procedures are in place . • Support to school communities in their efforts to regain control • Trauma Debriefing / Counseling / Therapy • Intervention and prevention programs • Infrastructure support if needed • Law enforcement support • Safe Schools Call Centre WCED :Safe Schools

11. NEED FOR A HIGH LEVEL INTERSECTORAL TASK TEAM • High level multi -sectoral Task Team • to deal with crime and violence • All three tiers of government should be included . • The task team should look at short , • medium and long term strategies . • It should co-ordinate activities of all agencies . WCED :Safe Schools

12. Job creation / Reduction of unemployment • Long term solutions would include moral • regeneration of our country . • Education will have to play a special role in • conjunction with religious and sport bodies , • NGO and CBO . • This process will involve learners , • teachers their parents and school community . WCED :Safe Schools

13. OPTIONS • Relevantly trained Municipal police officers deployed to high risk areas for a year • Army vehicles visibility .(currently withdrawn • from Operation Slasher.) • Searches and Seizures and raids of shebeens. • Gang Mediation/ Social Crime Prevention Activities WCED :Safe Schools

14. Media coverage - Strong messages to communities . • Stronger legislation - Firearm Free Zones within a • 100m of school premises and the implementation there of . • Review the release of gangsters (20 000 prisoners release p.a) Correctional services and behaviour modification -pre requisite • Police Officers as Resource Officers in each school . • All of the above need to be balanced with social crime • prevention strategies . WCED :Safe Schools