The Western Cape MEC education calls for specialized gang units, the military to protect schools

Western Cape MEC for Education Debbie Schäfer requested that specialized gang units and the Army be introduced to protect schools, as a result of an increase in gang warfare

"The only solution to this current violence gang education and the safety of our learners would be to increase the presence of SAPS in the field, and especially around our schools, to bring back the units Specialized gangs and temporarily deploying the army in areas occupied by gangs to stabilize areas "Schäfer said in a statement released Tuesday.

READ: Education WCape MEC demands answers on the promised gang unit

The Western Cape Education Ministry also issued a circular asking for all schools their security plans.

"The safety of our learners and educators is paramount and we ask all schools to take the necessary precautions to prepare for any emergency," said Schäfer

. "Last week in Scottsdene, gunshots rang out continuously around our schools: a police van arrived with a police officer unable to enter the area until the reinforcements arrived, which has never been the case. "

The CME reiterated that there was a chronic shortage of police in the Western Cape.

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"We support the calls of the Prime Minister for the Minister of National Police to request the deployment of the army, which is necessary to support the operations of the SAPS ( South African Police Service) as an interim peacekeeping measure "Schafer sa

" The reality is that without more police presence, gang violence can not be controlled, "she added. 19659002] The ministry hailed the Western Cape officers who are doing their best "under difficult circumstances." General Solly Shoke, chief of the South African National Defense Forces (SANDF), said at a conference in Pretoria that SANDF would deploy, but reaffirmed that that "crime [was] was not our domain". said the army "skop it out" when they get into a situation and they "do not want to be seen in a position where we are fighting our citizens".