The Gauteng Department of Education has come under fire for removing trained security guards from high-risk schools, leaving students and staff vulnerable to gang violence, theft, and even fatal attacks.
With schools already battered by vandalism, fires, and shootings, critics are calling the decision reckless and dangerously shortsighted.
Previous reports by The Star highlight the ongoing security challenges in Gauteng schools. In recent months, theft and vandalism have stripped underground cables and water pipes, leaving 1,400 learners without electricity and water; five learners allegedly set fire to two mobile classrooms; a devastating blaze destroyed 11 classrooms, affecting over 230 learners; and just last month, a principal and administrator at Enxiweni Primary School in Tembisa were shot dead on school grounds
In a written response to the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on November 25, GDE MEC Matome Chiloane admitted the department did not assess the financial or safety implications of withdrawing security guards.
“The department has not conducted a cost analysis on the financial impact of cancelling school security contracts and the potential costs of vandalism, burglaries and related incidences… the cancellation of the security contract was based on budget pressures. That is why we came to that particular decision,” he said.
Chiloane explained that security interventions were always intended to be temporary and that additional measures, including patrollers, wardens, the Adopt-a-Cop Programme, and trained SGB safety committees, were implemented to stabilise schools. He urged sensitivity over political point-scoring, adding that future budgets could allow longer-term security interventions.
“Schools are being targeted, our children and teachers are traumatised, and the community is in shock. This is not something to politic with… Going forward, we will work with future budgets to ensure a longer period of security intervention in schools,” Chiloane said.
He also provided preliminary cost estimates: deploying four guards per high-risk school, day and night, for the 75 schools identified would cost roughly R13.8 million per month, or R165.6 million annually, while installing two metal detectors per school would add about R225,000. Extending guards to all 2,240 public schools could push annual costs over R537 million, with metal detectors costing an additional R6.72 million.
“Security deployment depends on each school’s risk level, and while these are rough estimates, it shows the scale and cost of protecting our learners. This is why a proper security review is critical before any further action,” he said.
Michael Waters, DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Education, slammed the department’s decision as “gross negligence,” vowing to demand the immediate reinstatement of accredited security guards at high-risk schools.
“Despite this complete absence of due diligence, the department went ahead and removed properly trained security guards from schools across the province,” he said.
Waters also criticised the replacement of trained guards with unaccredited patrollers who are not deployed after hours, on weekends, or during school holidays, leaving schools dangerously exposed.
The Star
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