The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) says ensuring safety and dignity in schools must be a joint effort between government departments, local municipalities, and communities.
The Commission made the call during the launch of its annual State of Schools Report in Johannesburg on Wednesday. The 2025 report highlights ongoing challenges in the education system particularly school safety and the continued presence of pit latrines in some provinces.
SAHRC Acting Chief Operations Officer, Eric Mokonyama, said creating safe learning environments requires coordination between the Department of Police, the Department of Education, and community structures.
“When learners and teachers arrive at school, there should be security officers present. We must also ensure that no dangerous weapons or drugs enter school premises,” he said.
Mokonyama also welcomed progress made in reducing the number of pit toilets in schools but stressed that full eradication remains non-negotiable.
“The Human Rights Commission’s expectation is that there should not be even one pit latrine system in our schools,” he said. “Even a single pit latrine poses a serious risk to learners’ lives. While we’ve seen improvements in provinces such as Mpumalanga, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape still face significant challenges.”
The Commission reiterated that access to safe sanitation and secure learning spaces is a fundamental human right and urged government to accelerate efforts to meet these standards across all public schools.