THE Eastern Cape MEC for Transport and Safety Gloria Barry told hundreds of school pupils to stop abusing drugs as it was a root cause of crime.
Barry was speaking at the official launch of the safer schools programme in the OR Tambo District in Mthatha on Friday, held at the Mthatha Technical College.
Barry said that 52 schools in the province had been identified as needing urgent attention due to incidents of violence within those schools.
“We must avoid being used as market for drug distribution, we must say ‘no’ to drug abuse,” Barry said.
She said schools should not be ivory towers but centres of community excellence. Barry said schools had become “hunting grounds” for criminals and that sometimes school children were victims or perpetrators of crimes in schools.
This, she said, made both teachers and learners feel insecure. Barry said the programme aimed to encourage the establishment of school safety committees to work closely with school governing bodies, learner representative councils, the South African Police Service (SAPS), community police and sector crime forums.
Barry also applauded Nkosi Mfundo Mtirara, who recently ordered a shebeen near a local school to close following allegations that the shebeen had been selling alcohol to underage schoolchildren in uniform.
The programme also aimed at promoting an integrated approach to enhance safety and security in schools and to mobilise communities to improve the quality of teaching and learning. Barry warned the pupils against gender based violence.
“Young men should respect their female counterparts,” Barry said. “Let us continue to work with our schools and the community in pursuit of peace, security and comfort for all in society.”
Issued by: Department of Safety and Liaison, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
18 May 2009
Source: Department of Safety and Liaison, Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.safety.ecprov.gov.za)
