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More School Resource Officers join the class of 2025

The School Resource Officers (SROs) started the 2024 school year with 88 members deployed in and around 54 schools in the metropole. By the final term, the number had grown to 111, and by July 2025, the SROs will add nine more schools to their roster, and 18 additional officers, taking the overall total to 129. Read more below:   

The SRO initiative began in 2012 as dedicated resources deployed at six schools to improve safety, and has since branched out to include patrols and interventions in the areas around schools too.

Today they are deployed at 54 schools and surrounds.

Between January and October 2024, officers made seven arrests, issued 1 904 fines for various traffic and by-law transgressions, confiscated two firearms and nearly 4 000 units of dagga.

The number of dangerous items confiscated dropped from 2 866 in 2023, to 1 043 in 2024, courtesy of random searches, but also improved learner behaviour.

The SROs also coordinated 176 extra-mural activities including a fun run, hikes and marching competitions.

‘The SROs help tackle challenges in the school environment, but they also help coordinate positive experiences and activities to keep learners occupied and develop critical life skills. We have had very positive feedback from schools, particularly around improved learner behaviour and a more supportive school environment. A few years ago, we expanded the initiative to include patrols in areas around schools too, impacting community safety. Just this week, our SROs responded to gunshots in Tafelsig, and not only found the suspect, but also recovered the firearm.

‘Safety is, unfortunately, an ongoing challenge at our schools. And, while the SRO deployment makes a dent, it is not up to them alone. We call on teachers, parents and learners to work together so that our schools can be the safe spaces they are meant to be,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

·       Parents are encouraged to take an active role in their children’s schooling, and to support school initiatives

·       Educators are encouraged to partner with the SROs to foster a culture of openness and mutual respect

·       Learners are encouraged to take ownership of their actions and be ambassadors of positive change

Apart from the further expansion of the SRO project this year, other plans for 2025 include improved coordination and implementing more tailored violence prevention activities like marching bands, ballroom, sports like rugby and soccer, and expanded participation in the Youth Energy Safety (YES) programme.

In 2024, SROs, teachers and more than 500 learners at three schools participated in workshops facilitated by the programme, which focuses on violence

prevention in schools.