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Most schools in Khayelitsha were shut down on Monday as concerned teachers and residents marched to the CBD to meet Premier Helen Zille to demand that schools in the area be made safe by providing 24 hours security.

The march happened under the umbrella of the Khayelitsha Development Forum.

Khayelitsha Development Forum Chairperson, Ndithini Thyido says the terrorism of teachers in Khayelitsha schools has been going on for the longest time but not much attention has been given to it by the media.

He says the crime levels have escalated lately to a point where these criminals would just march into schools premises and terrorise the teachers.

The issue is that both the teachers and the children are now traumatised to a point the vision of Khayelitsha for the future is derailed. As a community, we are saying enough is enough.

— Ndithini Thyido, Khayelitsha Development Forum Chairperson

The plight of a black child in the Western Cape and in Cape Town continues unabatedly as in olden days because these things can be avoided because in affluent schools the department finds means and ways to install CCTV cameras, have access controlled gates, proper fencing, but when it comes to township schools you always hear stories as to why the department cannot do this.

— Ndithini Thyido, Khayelitsha Development Forum Chairperson

Thyido says they asked the Premier for all the schools in Khayelitsha to have access controlled gates in a form of security guards who will be present 24/7. He says they are demanding that all administration blocks should have proper security, installed with 24 hours CCTV cameras.

And we are saying the community itself must take responsibility and adopt a school that is in close proximity so that when these thugs go into the school someone will alert the police.

— Ndithini Thyido, Khayelitsha Development Forum Chairperson

To hear the rest of the conversation with Ndithini Thyido, listen below:

This article first appeared on CapeTalk : Khayelitsha teachers sick and tired of criminals, demand 24 hours security