The Sedibeng school safety workshop
The Sedibeng school safety workshop
Keynote Speaker: MEC Fikile Nonhlanhla Mazibuko
Vaal University of Technology (VUT) hosted a workshop for the Vaal community on Wednesday, 12 February 2020 in the Desmond Tutu Great Hall, Vanderbijlpark campus about safety at schools and tertiary institutions for learners and students as well as employees in these workplaces.
Some of the issues affecting the safety of employees and learners are drugs and alcohol, violent behaviour of leaners at schools, mistreatment of teachers at schools and domestic violence that is often the cause for the other problems.
Important departments, such as the South African Police Services (SAPS), Sedibeng District Municipality, Gauteng Province Community Safety, the Gauteng Liquor Board (GLB), Community Police Forum, Gauteng Department of Education, Emfuleni Local Municipality and the Department of Social Development were all invited to be part of this community engagement.
Mr Mbongeni Shabangu, representing GLB, presented to the audience factors affecting the community when people take random decisions, such as signing petitions for fellow community members to open bottle stores, taverns or clubs that may later impact negatively young people.
He suggested establishing a vibrant society that stops the illicit licensing of liquor outlets and reports contraventions. He also emphasised the importance of involving the GLB when altering licence conditions or operating hours for outlets close to schools.
MEC Fikile Nonhlanhla Mazibuko was keynote speaker at the event. In closing she said: “School safety will be elevated to be the premium priority, we want our children to be safe in school and we will focus on the worst cases such as gangsterism, violence and drugs. Regular rape research will be conducted by the SAPS. We are nurturing future leaders.”
Wendy Ntshakala