Education MEC Debbie Schäfer is calling for more visible policing and army deployment to protect pupils and staff at schools.
“While we are doing as much as we can as a department to try to protect our schools, we simply do not have the legislative mandate or operational control over SAPS, the security manpower, or the budget to contend with severe flare-ups in gang violence.”
However, Police Minister Bheki Cele’s spokesperson, Reneilwe Serero, said Operation Thunder, launched in May to fight gang violence, is yielding results and that police are doing enough.