MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – Serious concern about the dramatic increase in alcohol and other drug abuse in schools in the Limpopo Province was expressed at a recent crime prevention summit held here.

The Department of Education, the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU), as well as the police expressed their concern about the crime situation at schools and the impact on general safety and security in the school environment.

The summit was hosted by the Department of Safety, Security and Liaison to improve the relations between the police, local municipality and the community by promoting cooperative governance; to facilitate the implementation of the National Crime Prevention Strategy; to enhance public education and awareness on safety and security matters by promoting public participation and to develop a program of action for crime prevention, in order to create a safe and secure living place for all, to restore investment confidence by business and to identify problematic areas and strategies to deal with those.

In its presentation, the Soutpansberg Circuit Cluster of the Department of Education said schools, especially Secondary Schools, have become a haven of criminal activities, probably because agents of crime find school children soft targets and easy to influence. Most children lack education on crime and its consequences in their future life. Reports on crime from schools range from alcohol abuse, with children arriving drunk at school in the morning, after breaks and during school outings. Their source of supply is taverns, clubhouses and liquor stores. Drug abuse is also common. Children have easy access to drugs like dagga, which is the most common in rural areas.

“Schools are becoming a booming market for this herb. Glue sniffing, (even by primary school children) is also rife.

“Cases in which school children are found in possession of lethal weapons have become common at our schools,” it was reported.

The weapons range from high calibre guns to dangerous knives. The source is varied. Some come from home, where family members do not keep them safely. People who use children to amass riches through theft and other crime supply some. The report states that a lack of guidance and control by family structures in most communities are quite evident. Most children are left by themselves at home – sometimes to fend for themselves and thus become easy victims of crime agents.

In SADTU’s submission it is sated that most black rural schools are in a largely insecure environment. Schools lack infrastructure like fencing and burglar proofing. External conflicts easily boil over into the schools, because access is not controlled.

“Our learners are gradually becoming a market for drugs. Our learners have easy access to drugs like dagga and alcohol and even more addictive substances. It is difficult to catch them in the act, but their behaviour reflects that they are under the influence. They display disrespectful and violent behaviour to fellow students and even to their educators.”