Kids’ safety after school highlighted
After receiving several complaints from concerned residents about children as young as five years old being left unattended after school hours, BONUS contacted a few primary school principals in the city as well as the police to find out how they ensure the safety of children after school hours.
POLOKWANE – Parents entrust the safety of their children to schools when they are at work, but how can they be sure their children are safe after school hours?
Majority of the principals shared their concerns about the children being left unattended after school. They said prior to accepting a child into the school, they ensure parents and guardians are made aware of the school’s code of conduct and insist that parents ensure their children’s means of transport to school and back is arranged.
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“Unfortunately the schools can only be held responsible for the safety of children during school hours and while they are on the school premises during extramural activities when they are in our care,” one principal, who wished to remain anonymous, told BONUS.
Parents are advised to ensure that their children are collected on time when school ends as they stand greater risks of getting abducted, robbed or even hit by cars while they wait to be picked up.
They are also advised to ensure they put their contact details in their children’s school bags or that their children know their contact details or physical address by heart should a child be found stranded.
We wanted to know from police what their role is to ensure the safety of children.
WO Lesiba Ramoshaba from the Polokwane Police said they do regular patrols in and around areas where schools are located.
“We also liaise with school principals to ensure we have a working relationship with them. This ensures we are alerted when they encounter problems at school. We regularly facilitate safety talks to encourage learners not to talk to strangers and inform them about social ills like alcohol and drug abuse, crime, bullying and teenage pregnancy. These awareness programmes also deal with sector crime incidents,” he explained.
Ramoshaba advised parents and guardians to make sure that their children are familiar with their home address, parents’ contact numbers as well as contact numbers of police officials.
Alternatively, parents can save the following numbers for police officers who will be able to assist them in case of emergency:
1. WO Lesiba Ramoshaba 082 728 9835.
2. Brig Gift Makubele 082 778 7267.
3. WO Mazwi Maokeng 072 730 1843.
Ramoshaba thanked the Department of Education and the community at large for their cooperation in helping to ensure children are safe at all times.
