At Liebenberg & Associates, we’ve worked with all kinds of schools and universities in South Africa. From large campuses to small primary schools, from elite schools to underfunded ones, we’ve seen what works… and what doesn’t.
One thing we keep noticing is that most only take security seriously after something goes wrong. There’s a reactive mindset: cameras are installed up after an intrusion; additional guards are posted after a protest; policies change after a public outcry. But by then, the damage is obviously done. What’s sorely missing is forward-thinking. Very often, the leadership focuses on security tools instead of human behaviour, on what can be seen, rather than how threats move.
We wrote this for the schools and universities that want to do better. For those who understand how deeply safety is tied to learning, and how fragile that balance can be if left unmanaged.
The challenges are far more complex than they were even just a few years ago. In schools, particularly those in high-crime areas, we’re seeing everything from robberies, intrusions, gang activity, drug use, and violence linked to community tensions. In under-resourced environments, teachers often avoid reporting incidents because they know there’s no support. In better-resourced schools, it’s quite the opposite - denial or fear of reputational damage keeps things under wraps.
At universities, the risks shift, but they’re just as serious. Campuses are naturally open spaces, with thousands of people coming and going every day. That openness creates vulnerabilities. Violence, theft, protest disruption, and targeted infrastructure damage are all real problems. In politically sensitive times, campuses often become flashpoints. We’ve seen protests spiral into intimidation and arson. In one case, students used fire extinguishers to destroy the campus’ IT systems.
We see the same three traps everywhere. First, security is treated as a facilities issue and handed off to someone like the bursar or estate manager - people who already have full plates and aren’t trained to handle evolving risk. Second, institutions focus on having a visible security presence, but without a clear plan, creating a false sense of safety. Third, institutions react to isolated incidents without looking at the bigger picture. After something happens, they scramble to respond, only to return to business as usual once the noise dies down. What’s needed is a systemic view. One that tracks patterns, not just events.
Security isn’t just an operational issue. It’s a leadership issue. The safety of students and staff affects everything… learning outcomes, staff retention, public reputation, even funding and insurance. But too often, security is sidelined. When school boards and university leadership step in and treat it as a strategic priority, things improve. Reporting gets sharper. Budgets reflect actual risk. Roles become clearer. And when things go wrong, responses are faster and more coordinated.
There’s no one-size-fits-all model. A university with multiple faculties and residences has different needs than a small primary school. But the fundamentals are the same - you need to know who’s on your property, why they’re there, and how you’ll respond if something goes wrong.
Culture plays a huge role. If the community sees that safety is taken seriously, they’ll get on board. If they see it as a box-ticking exercise or a nuisance, they’ll find ways around it. The best systems we’ve helped build combine the right tools with the right people and processes. We’ve supported schools in setting up access control that distinguishes between students, staff, and visitors. We’ve helped universities train their staff to pick up on red flags. We’ve introduced panic systems that link directly to trained responders. We’ve developed anonymous reporting channels that allow students to flag bullying or drug issues without fear. And we’ve worked with leadership to plan for real threats. Not just burglaries, but protests, suicides, even shootings and bomb scares.
Security also has a social and political dimension. Movements like Fees Must Fall didn’t just disrupt campuses. They changed how students and staff think about authority and protection. People don’t want to feel like they’re under surveillance. They want to feel safe. Security teams must be more than guards. They must know how to de-escalate, how to read body language, and how to engage respectfully. We’ve seen huge impact when student leaders are part of security planning, when private firms understand the institutional culture, and when the goal shifts from control to collaboration.
We’re here to help schools and universities understand where their real risks are, how their systems work (or don’t), and what it takes to build a resilient, trustworthy environment. We conduct full audits, from access control and key logs to protest risk and online threats. We train staff at every level - security officers, administrators, even student reps. And we help institutions prepare for the legal and reputational challenges that come when incidents don’t just stay local - they get posted, shared, and scrutinized.
Education can’t flourish in fear. Learning requires a foundation of safety… not just physical, but emotional and social too. Security should never be about paranoia. It should be about creating the right conditions for people to thrive.
You can reach us at info@liebenbergassociates.com.