Mafias Are Targeting Our Schools and We’re Still Not Listening

South Africa’s schools are under attack and not from petty criminals, but from organised crime networks that are systematically infiltrating education institutions. These “mafias” are extorting teachers, threatening principals, and exploiting systemic weaknesses. The problem isn’t just corruption or poverty; it’s a failure to understand and manage risk. With almost every school in the country lacking a proper, independent Security Risk Assessment, children and staff remain dangerously exposed. Cameras, fences, and guards mean nothing without knowing your risks. It’s time schools, parents, and communities demand accountability and take real, informed action before tragedy strikes.

1. PSIRA 2038881
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Mafias Are Targeting Our Schools and We’re Still Not
Listening

Let me tell you what’s happening right now in South Africa. It’s not just crime anymore; it’s
organised crime. People call it the mafia, and for good reason. These are not just gangsters
running around. These are networks. They are structured. And now, they’re targeting our schools.
Yes, schools. The one place that’s supposed to be safe for our children.
A while ago, a group demanded R50,000 from a school nurse at Efata School for the Blind. When
she refused, they came back, stole her things, and then threatened the principal. At Zane Mfundo
Primary in Philippi East, teachers were told they had to hand over 10% of their salaries just to stay
safe. Terrified, they cancelled their classes.
The mafia is no longer only going after tenders or construction. They’ve moved into schools, and
they’re not stopping there. They’re already in universities, using inside connections to steal
money and mess with governance. This is not just crime. This is a full system, and it’s growing.
Now, you might ask: Why is this happening?


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PSIRA 2038881
Reference# 25/08/0414:37:48
Reasoning with crime is Futile. I remind myself daily: crime can’t be undone.
2025-08-0414:37:48

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Intellectual Property Notice – Alwinco
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No part of this publication, including text, images, reports, or assessments, may be copied, stored, resold, or shared by any means without prior written consent from Alwinco.
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Because there’s hunger. There’s no work. There’s greed. And yes, there’s corruption. But most of
all, it comes down to how this country is being managed, or not managed.
And in the middle of all this, our schools are wide open.
The Risk No One’s Talking About
Here’s the scary part. About 99.89% of all schools in South Africa don’t have a proper security
risk assessment. They don’t have a working security plan. Most don’t even understand what
security really means in today’s world.
Yes, a few schools have something. But for most, there’s nothing. And that’s one of the biggest
problems we face.
We’re dealing with children, and we can’t even protect them.
Now, the government has announced a five-year plan with the police. They say they want to make
schools safer. That sounds good. But if they’re just going to do what they’ve been doing for the
last 60 years, we’re in trouble. Because that kind of security doesn’t work anymore.
You can have cameras, guards, and fences, but if you don’t know what your risks are, if you don’t
understand your threats, and if you don’t take real action, it’s like putting a bandage on a broken
bone.
What Is a Risk Assessment, and Why Does It Matter?
A real risk assessment has one goal: to help you protect your people. Here’s what it does:
1. It educates you (school management, staff, and even teachers) about crime and safety.
2. It identifies the risks inside and outside the school.
3. It gives you real solutions, in plain language, with explanations that make sense.
But here’s the catch: it must be independent.
It cannot be done by your security company. It’s like a kid marking their own test; of course they’ll
give themselves an A+. That’s not how it works. There’s no objectivity. No honesty. That’s why risk
assessments must be done by a completely separate professional, not someone selling guards
or systems. Not someone inside your school.
And yes, every single school is supposed to have one. It’s not just a nice-to-have. It’s like your
health and safety plan or your disaster recovery plan, except this one focuses on security and
crime.
And whose job is it to make sure this gets done?
• School management: you’re responsible for the safety of your learners and staff.
• Parents, you have every right (and duty) to demand that your child’s school is secure and
has a current risk assessment in place.

3. PSIRA 2038881
Intellectual Property Notice – Alwinco
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Cameras, Policies, and Prevention
Let’s talk about cameras. A good CCTV system in a school has two important jobs:
1. Crime prevention: it helps stop a crime before it happens or alerts you fast enough to
act.
2. Evidence and protection: if something goes wrong, the footage gives accurate proof. It
protects kids, teachers, and even principals from false claims or real attacks.
But remember, cameras only help if they work properly, are installed correctly, and are part of
a bigger system. They are not just there for break-ins. They help with bullying, assault, and even
sexual harassment. Inside and outside the school.
That’s why the school’s responsibility is not just about outside criminals. It’s also about making
sure inner-school crimes are handled with the same seriousness.
What Kind of Risk Assessment Should You Do?
If your school had a risk assessment more than three years ago, it’s time for a follow-up. We call
that the 70/30 Risk Assessment.
Here’s how it works:
• 70% looks at policies, procedures, and how your school is managed.
• 30% is a re-check of the original risk factors, adding new threats, new technologies, and
changes in the environment.
The first report gave you your baseline. This second one carries that forward.
And again, it must be done independently. We are not a security company. We don’t sell guards
or cameras. We are a security risk assessment company. What we do is more like an
investigation; we find your risks, and we give you clear, honest solutions.
Your Answer in Court Is in the Risk Assessment
Let me be clear. The day is coming when parents (or even the court) will ask, What did your school
do to protect the children from crime?
And if you don’t have a proper risk assessment to show, what will you say?
If you do have one, you’ll have the answers. You’ll have proof that you understood the risks,
planned for them, and took action. That document could protect you, help with budgeting, guide
your school’s policies, and calm down any parent committee.
It’s not a witch-hunt. It’s your shield against crime, against corruption, and against disaster.
So Let Me Say This as Plainly as I Can
• Schools, you are responsible for your learners’ safety. You need a risk assessment. If you
don’t have one, you are already behind and exposed.

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• Parents, you are also responsible. Ask the school: How are you keeping my child safe
from crime?
Because the mafia is no longer coming. They’re already here.
And if you want to protect your children, you need to act now.

It would be impossible for us to explain a full Security Risk Assessment in a single article. We
would need between 340 and 560 pages to do so. Therefore, if you would like more information
on how a Security Risk Assessment can keep your children safe at school, please visit Alwinco's
website.
Source: https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/829494/another-new-mafia-taking-
hold-in-south-africa-2/

Alwinco Team
[email protected]