Latest news with #DavidMaynier
Eyewitness News
6 days ago
- Eyewitness News
How to combat the spike in school burglaries in the Western Cape?
R1 million in repairs. The Western Cape Education (WCED) is counting the cost of what it says is an increase in the number of incidents of school burglaries and vandalism over the recent holiday. The Department said the number climbed from 45 last year to 57 this year. Western Cape Provincial Minister of Education, David Maynier, said: "Funding will now have to be diverted from educational activities because of the selfish actions of criminals." He added that even though the crimes were minor in nature, they impacted the everyday functionality of schools. Clive Arries, the Principal of West End Primary School says:
IOL News
7 days ago
- IOL News
Burglary and vandalism cost Western Cape schools R1 million during holidays
School burglary and vandalism has increased in the province. Image: file The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) will have to cough-up over R1 million after a spate of burglaries and vandalism at schools during the June/July holiday. The province recorded 57 incidents of burglary and vandalism at 46 schools during the winter break, while education watchdogs and authorities are calling for stricter policing and priority investigations. Education MEC, David Maynier, said the incidents were a significant increase compared to last year, when 45 incidents took place at 39 schools. He said property such as fencing, electrical wiring and computers were either vandalised or burgled. 'School properties are at particular risk of burglary and vandalism during school holidays, which is why the WCED subsidised holiday security at 424 schools in high-risk areas during the winter holidays,' he said. 'Despite this investment, 57 incidents of burglary and vandalism at 46 schools were reported during the June/July holiday period. This is a significant increase from the same period in 2024, when 45 incidents affecting 39 schools were reported. 'Most of these incidents were minor in nature, but nonetheless have an impact on the daily functioning of our schools. "Items stolen or damaged include building fixtures and fencing, electrical wiring, food and cooking facilities for school meals, sports equipment, computers and other electrical equipment, plumbing features, and a variety of school consumables. 'The estimated cost of repairing or replacing damaged and stolen items is over R1 million, which is unacceptable in the difficult financial circumstances the sector currently faces. Funding will now have to be diverted from educational activities because of the selfish actions of criminals.' Maynier said keeping schools safe required the support of communities, and quick reporting in apprehending perpetrators and retrieving stolen goods. Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC, Anroux Marais, also expressed concern over the increase in criminal activity, saying: 'Stealing from our schools is stealing from our children, and we urge any member of the public with information about these crimes to come forward immediately. We further urge SAPS to prioritise investigation of crimes in and around our schools, so that together we can keep our school properties safe.' National Professional Teachers' Organisation of SA (Naptosa) Western Cape chairperson, Yasierah Adonis, called on policing into such matters to be prioritised.
The Citizen
04-08-2025
- The Citizen
WCED condemns burglary, vandalism in schools by ‘selfish criminals'
The Department said the number climbed from 45 last year to 57 for this year. The Western Cape Education department says the estimated cost of repairing vandalism at schools in the province is expected to be more than a million rand. The department said it is saddened to report an increase in the number of incidents of school burglaries and vandalism at provincial schools this past holiday. Burglary and vandalism Western Cape Provincial minister of Education, David Maynier, said 57 incidents of burglary and vandalism were reported at 46 schools during the June/July holiday period. 'This is a significant increase from the same period in 2024, when 45 incidents affecting 39 schools were reported.' Costs Maynier said most of these incidents were minor in nature, but nonetheless have an impact on the daily functioning of the province's schools. 'Items stolen or damaged include building fixtures and fencing, electrical wiring, food and cooking facilities for school meals, sports equipment, computers and other electrical equipment, plumbing fixtures, and a variety of school consumables. 'The estimated cost of repairing or replacing damaged and stolen items is over R1 million, which is unacceptable in the difficult financial circumstances the sector currently faces. Funding will now have to be diverted from educational activities because of the selfish actions of criminals,' Maynier said. ALSO READ: Eleven classrooms destroyed after fire guts Riverlea High School Support Maynier emphasised that keeping the Western Cape's schools safe requires the support of school communities. 'Quick reporting can make all the difference in apprehending perpetrators and retrieving stolen goods. 'We appeal to the public to keep a close eye on their local schools and to report any suspicious activity to the South African Police Services (Saps) immediately,' Maynier said. Police Western Cape minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, has also expressed concern over the increase in criminal activity. 'Stealing from our schools is stealing from our children, and we urge any member of the public with information about these crimes to come forward immediately.' Marais urged Saps to prioritise the investigation of crimes in and around the schools, so that school properties are safe. ALSO READ: Call for CCTV cameras to be installed in high-risk schools in Eldorado Park
IOL News
16-06-2025
- General
- IOL News
Deadline approaches for Western Cape parents on school choices for Grades R, 1, or 8
Education MEC David Maynier with Timour Hall Primary School's Grade 1 pupils on their first day of primary school. Image: Supplied Western Cape parents who have received more than one offer for their child in Grade R, 1 or 8 in 2026 have until Tuesday, 17 June, to confirm their school of choice. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said that parents who have been offered a place for their child must confirm their choice of school by 17 June 2025, and after tomorrow, their highest-ranked choice of school will be automatically confirmed. The WCED had previously said that over 44,000 learners have been accepted to more than one school, allowing for additional places to open up for other learners who have not received successful applications at schools, or at their school of choice. 'We call these 'double parkers'. Once these 'double parked' learners are confirmed to a specific school, the places at the other schools can be offered to other learners.' On Sunday, Education MEC David Maynier said: 'After Tuesday, the online admissions system will auto-confirm their top-ranked choice of school, freeing up thousands of remaining places for other parents. 'Schools will continue to fill remaining places until the end of July.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading While the online admissions system is now closed for Grade R, 1 and 8 applications, parents can still apply for 2026 by applying either at one of the WCED's Education District offices or at a school. The schools can capture an application; however, this does not confirm acceptance. On Monday, Maynier's spokesperson, Kerry Mauchline, said that the number of learner applications they are currently dealing with is 57,000 for Grade R, 24,000 for Grade 1, and 93,000 for Grade 8. The WCED explained that there will be learners who are not successful in getting placed during this initial phase. 'We know that this is extremely stressful and disappointing, but we appeal to parents to bear in mind that we are still very early in the admissions process, and thousands of places will still open up once 'double parkers' accept their school.' Parents have been advised to stay in touch with the schools they applied to and to request that the learner be placed on a waiting list. 'While the wait is stressful, there will be many shifts within the system as parents confirm and decline places. This happens over the next few months or so as schools finalise their admissions lists. If parents still do not have a place for their child later this year, the department will assist them with placement options.' Parents can please call 0861 819 919 for further advice if required. Parents will be able to check their outcomes at:
IOL News
25-04-2025
- IOL News
Shocking rise in sexual harassment cases in South African schools
The Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) has confirmed 111 cases of sexual harassment and abuse of learners by teachers were referred to them in the 2024/2025 financial year. In a crisis plaguing South African schools, the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) has confirmed 111 cases of sexual harassment and abuse of learners by teachers were referred to them in the 2024/2025 financial year. The shocking figure is 29 cases more compared to the previous year, when 82 cases of sexual harassment and abuse by teachers were referred to the council. The province leading with the highest number of cases referred for 2024/25 is KwaZulu-Natal with 25 - an increase of 14 cases compared to the previous year, followed by the Eastern Cape with 21, Gauteng with 16, the Western Cape and Free State both with 12, Mpumalanga with 10 and North West recording seven. Education MEC David Maynier's spokesperson, Kerry Mauchline, said six teachers were dismissed following seven cases of sexual assault of learners allegedly by teachers and public service staff for the year 2024/25. She said data for 2024/25 was currently being finalised and that the figures include both teachers and public service staff, and includes incidents that did not occur on school property. 'We obtained data from our Labour Relations directorate on cases involving sexual assault,' she said. 'We have seen a decrease in cases in 2024/25 (7 cases) compared to 2023/24 (15 cases). 'Of the 7 cases, 6 of the staff were dismissed, and one was suspended without pay. 'The WCED has strict protocols in place when an incident of sexual assault, or any form of assault or abuse, occurs at a school.' Mauchline said with the growing cases, staff were trained on how to manage sensitive cases. The statistics come as South Africa battles a scourge of gender-based violence. A national shutdown last week demanded the resignation of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, amid slow progress in the investigation into the rape of 7-year-old Cwecwe on the premises of Bergview College in the Eastern Cape. Department of Basic Education (DBE) spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, said they deemed such crimes as serious. "The department works with various stakeholders to isolate and punish those in the sector who have committed these heinous crimes," he said. 'The department has implemented the Comprehensive Sexuality Education as an approach aimed at empowering young people to identify potential danger, learn how to report and provide evidence that can be used to prosecute perpetrators." Childline CEO, Dumisile Cele, called for those accused to have their names added to the Child Protection Register within the Children's Act. 'We note the statistics on abuse of children and young people within the institutions of learning. "We know that these cases do not always come to the attention of authorities. It is therefore possible that there is underreporting of these cases,' Cele said. 'The reported statistics and the noted increase from the previous year is of great concern. "We must all demand to know about the safeguarding policies in our children's schools. Demand to know the procedures followed in dealing with cases reported in the school and the outcome of those cases. "We also know that educators tend to move from one school to the other. "It is therefore important that those found to have committed crimes against children be it through the courts or the schools' disciplinary procedures are reported to the correct authorities for example Part B of the Child Protection register within the Children's Act. "This will ensure that they are noted as individuals not suitable to work with children and when the potential employees conduct the necessary checks they have access to this information.' Western Cape Children's Commissioner, Christina Nomdo's office said they were not in a position to comment. Cape Argus
