Police Oversight and Community Safety
- (a) How many safety-related incidents have been recorded at schools in the province since the beginning of 2025 and (b) what progress has been made by the SAPS in investigating these cases; (SAPS to respond)
- whether details can be provide on specific cases, such as the (a) recent shooting near a school in Kraaifontein and (b) alleged extortion of teachers, including (i) the status of these investigations and (ii) any actions taken; (SAPS to respond)
- what measures are being implemented (a) to improve safety at schools and (b) to protect learners and educators from threats, such as extortion and violent crimes?
(1)(a) There have been a total of 16 safety-related incidents reported across January and February. The data for March is currently undergoing verification.
(b) Nine cases are under investigation, four are pending at court, and three were withdrawn by the Senior Public Prosecutor.
(2)(a) (i) The incident reported in Kraaifontein under CAS 665/01/2025 is currently under investigation by Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes.
(ii) While specific details of the investigation cannot be disclosed at this stage, it is confirmed that several witnesses have been interviewed as part of the ongoing process.
(b) (i) The incident reported in Philippi East under Enquiry no. 11/03/2025 is currently under investigation by Provincial Organised Crime.
(ii) This investigating is currently being treated as an enquiry rather than a formal criminal case. In South African Police Service (SAPS), an enquiry docket is a preliminary investigative tool used when there is not yet enough evidence or cooperation by witness to open a formal criminal case docket.
3(a) SAPS in partnership with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) conducted bilateral meetings and work sessions in all districts with SAPS Safer Schools Coordinators, School Resources Officers and WCED regional offcials to address school safety and referral pathways, linking schools with local police stations and activate appropriate response times to improve safety at schools, to conduct school visits, school searches, school safety crime awareness programmes and career exhibitions.
(b) SAPS is represented on the Provincial School Safety Priority Committee and Provincial School Safety Operational Forum together with other law enforcement agencies (COCT Metro Police, Law Enforcement, Emergency Services), other government department, Police Oversight and Community Safety (POCS), Department of Health (DoH), Western Cape Education Department (WCED) – Safe Schools Call Centre to address all relevant reports and issues related to the protection of learners and educators from threats, such as extortion and violent crimes.
