Pic: Premier Ndlovu delivering the keynote address
By Kopano Dibakwane
Various stakeholders converged at the Floreat Hotel in Sabie, Under Thaba Chweu Local Municipality, during the inaugural Provincial School Safety Indaba held under the theme: “Building Safer Schools Together.”
The two-day event is reportedly scheduled where key stakeholders including MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jackie Macie, Acting Provincial Police Commissioner, Major-General (Dr.) Zeph Mkhwanazi, alongside learners, educators, parents, traditional leaders, law enforcement agencies and civil society.
Delivering his keynote address, Mpumalanga Premier-Mandla Ndlovu has called on all sectors of society to work together in protecting learners and creating secure learning environ
“Today, we call upon young people to stand united against the scourge of violence, bullying and criminality in our schools. Last year alone, 623 schools across our province reported incidents of vandalism and burglary.
“ This is not merely a statistic; it is a loud and urgent warning that something within our communities is deeply broken,” said Premier Ndlovu.
In additional to what Premier Ndlovu said ,MEC for Mpumalanga DCSSL(Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison), Jackie Macie, said a school infiltrated by violence and lawlessness weakens the very foundation of social progress, economic development, and pursuit of the African dream.
“ This Indaba takes place at a critical moment in our democratic journey, where schools, institutions that ought to be centres of hope, learning, discipline, and nation-building, are increasingly exposed to the harsh realities of societal violence and criminality.
“ As we confront these challenges, we must appreciate that the struggle for safer schools is deeply political and developmental in character,” said MEC Macie.
Premier applauded the intervention by a number of schools such as the implementation of the anti-bullying programme.
“ The number of schools implementing anti-bullying programmes increased from 120 to 301. Schools implementing corporal punishment-prevention protocols increased from 50 to 265. Schools conducting searches and seizures nearly doubled. This demonstrates that where there is intervention, there is progress.
“ This tells us that change is possible. We are not starting from nothing. We are building on foundations that are already shifting in the right direction,” said Ndlovu.
The Premier also reaffirmed Mpumalanga’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and implementing practical interventions to combat violence, bullying, vandalism and drug-related incidents in schools.
