Question no: 1106
Mr D C Smiles (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:
(1) In each of the three most recent years for which information is available in each province, (a) how many incidents of (i) vandalism and (ii) theft of school property were reported and (b) what total amount was spent on (i) repairing the damage caused by these acts and (ii) improving security to prevent further incidents in each case;
(2) Whether any strategies have been adopted to reduce (a) vandalism and (b) theft of school property; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. In terms of the Public Finance Management Act, it is the responsibility of the accounting officer of the provincial Education Department to develop a risk assessment and mitigation strategy in regard to school property and other assets, and to manage these.
The Department of Education therefore does not have the information requested, which should be obtained from the relevant departments.
In terms of the Public Finance Management Act, it is the responsibility of the accounting officer of the provincial Education Department to develop a risk assessment and mitigation strategy on the safety of school property.
2. A four pronged strategy is used by the Department of Basic Education together with its provincial departments to address or limit vandalism and theft of school property. It does so by i) providing the required minimum security like fencing and security gates as stipulated in the department’s minimum norms and standards for school infrastructure, ii) deploying security personnel to schools, and iii) establishing sound working partnership with the South African Police Service (SAPS) which has seen the establishment of school safety teams and patrol of school vicinity which significantly reduces vandalism.
Issued by: Department of Basic Education
4 September 2009
