Equal Education rejects SANDF deployment to gang-riddled areas

Youth-led movement Equal Education says deploying the SANDF to gang-riddled areas is not enough to protect young people from the scourge of gangsterism.

Equal education said government should initiate long-term measures to safeguard learners within the country's education system.

Acting minister of police Firoz Cachalia has confirmed the SANDF will be deployed to gang and crime-ridden areas in the Western Cape, Gauteng and Eastern Cape within the next week. 

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Equal Education researcher Yolisa Piliso said young people who drop out of school become prone to joining gangs.

"So, it is important that when learners are already in schools, the Western Cape government together with the national government should play enough role in ensuring that learners continue to be in the system and to be safeguarded," said Piliso.

Piliso said the deployment of the SANDF to gang and crime hotspots will only offer learners and teachers temporary relief.

"The number of crimes and murders may decrease at the time the army is deployed, but that is not a sustainable, long-term solution," said Piliso.

Piliso said learners need strengthened in-school support systems and better policing in gang-infested areas.