Gang violence spills into Western Cape classrooms

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) shockingly reveals they have received 454 incidents of assault on school property between January and July involving learners.

National Professional Teacher’s Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA) reports that since January, 563 children have fallen victim to violence, leading to high absenteeism and victimisation with gangsterism spilling over into the classroom.

Kerry Mauchline spokesperson for MEC for Education, David Maynier confirmed that assaults on school grounds around the Western Cape included a number of incidents involving the use of weapons to physical altercations.

The latest incident is that of a stabbing frenzy allegedly at hands of a Grade 10 learner at AZ Berman High School in Mitchell’s Plain last week who apparently stabbed three children with a screwdriver following an argument.

The learner was suspended and cases of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm was opened.

In June a Grade 10 learner from Cravenby Combined School was lucky to be alive after he was stabbed in the chest by a fellow learner.

Mauchline said various integrations were in place to curb violence inside or outside the classroom.

“Between January and July 2025, our schools have reported 454 incidents of assault on school property,” she explained.

“It is important to note that this includes a range of incidents from assault with a weapon to less serious incidents like pushing and shoving, or fighting.

 “While the mandate and the ability to police crime lies with the South African Police Service and law enforcement, our department invests in securing our schools, violence prevention programmes, and providing support following traumatic incidents.

 “We are integrated into the Provincial Joints committee for school safety, and work together with SAPS, law enforcement, other government departments and NGOs to address safety issues."

Riedwaan Ahmed, Provincial Chief Executive Officer for NAPTOSA said over 500 children had fallen victim to crime due to gang violence and school fights.

In June the WCED revealed that at least 50 incidents of learners assaults on teachers since January which were reported to Safer Schools and in one incident an educator was held at gunpoint.

“Gang violence, school fights perpetrated in our schools are more than stripping our schools from increased absenteeism; victimisation of teaching staff and trauma, it is stripping learners of their constitutional right to quality education and the learners’ and education staffs’ right to safety,” he stated.

 “Schools in gang hotspot areas have increasingly become unsafe zones, with learners and education staff traumatised by shootings, stabbings, and ongoing gang activities. Through all of this, we are informed that since January 2025, 563 children have fallen victim to gangsterism and violence particularly in areas such as Eerste River, Lavender Hill, Manenburg and Mitchells Plain.”

Ahmed said gang violence often found its way into the classroom due to what learners are exposed to or are involved in and resulted in attacks on teachers as well: “We are informed of stabbing and shooting incidents, fighting amongst learners and where gang violence spills over into the schools. Amidst this gang violence there is an increase in learner and parent abuse towards educator personnel, which calls for trauma counselling and psychosocial support from the WCED.

 “NAPTOSA is aware of the recently signed and launched Collaborative Implementation Protocol between the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) regarding school safety."

Peter Johnson, MPP - DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Education said during a briefing to the Standing Committee on Education, the WCED revealed that 82 School Resource Officers (SROs) have been deployed across 41 area-based teams and hotspot schools to curb safety-related incidents.

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