Some schools in South Africa are ‘paying criminals’ to avoid vandalism

Schools in Cape Town are reportedly paying protection money to ensure they don't fall victim to vandalism and other crimes.

It's emerged that some principals are reportedly resorting to paying extortionists to protect school property.

In some cases, parents are even being asked to cough up to contribute to so-called 'security fees'.

Basil Manuel of the National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa says it is difficult to determine how widespread the problem is.

"Because it's under the sheets, as it were. It's not very visible and spoken about."

But Manuel suggests it may not be limited to a localised region in Cape Town.

"We know in Gauteng there have been stories that have slipped out now and then, one or two stories in Mpumalanga."

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He adds that it is certainly worrying, given that it is criminals holding themselves up as protectors.

He explains that schools pay the money because they are desperate, and this desperation makes them vulnerable.

"It's very difficult for one or two people to patrol a school campus, and when there is damage done, there's no one coming forward to help fix it. The Department is not coming around to fix."

Because of the cost of replacing or fixing stolen or damaged items, Manuel says, often, the rationale becomes that it is easier to 'pay a little something'.

"I understand the logic. I don't support it, but I understand it."

Manuel admits that reporting incidents of vandalism to the Department can prove fruitless.

"Help is slow if it does ever come."

Employing additional security personnel is unrealistic, he says.

"When you look at 24,000 to 25,000 schools, it is extremely difficult to ensure that everybody is covered by two or three security guards, that would increase the number of people in the system by a few hundred... That is not going to happen in this climate."

To listen to Manuel on 702/CapeTalk's Early Breakfast Show, use the audio player below: