Stabbings and chaos hit schools from Eastern Cape to Gauteng

Schools across South Africa have been rocked by a series of violent incidents this week.

In the latest incident, in the Eastern Cape, a Grade 9 learner was stabbed by two fellow learners at Enkwenkwezini Senior Secondary School.

Meanwhile, in the North West, a group of learners at Hoër Tegniese Skool in Klerksdorp disrupted classes and assaulted a teacher. Also trending ths week was the unrest seen at another Gauteng school, with violent clashes between learners from West Ridge High School and Hoërskool Roodepoort leading to serious injuries and the stabbing of a school principal.

In the Eastern Cape incident, a Grade 9 learner from Enkwenkwezini Senior Secondary School in Alice, in the Amathole West Education District, was assaulted and stabbed with scissors by two fellow learners. 

The Eastern Cape Department of Education condemned the act of violence and acknowledged the swift response of the school principal and staff who immediately assisted the victim, notified the parents, and reported the matter to the police. 

The Department’s Director of Communications, Vuyiseka Mboxela, confirmed police apprehended the perpetrators (learners). 

“The department appreciates the work of the police, which led to the accused being apprehended. The department is relieved to report that the condition of the learner is stable and that they were able to identify the perpetrators, who are believed to be fellow learners. The department has deployed its circuit manager, school inspectors, and psychosocial support staff to the school to provide support to learners and ensure a safe learning environment,” Mboxela said. 

The department said it is working closely with the police and parents to address the incident and has urged learners to refrain from violent behaviour. 

“We emphasise the importance of maintaining a safe and respectful school environment, where learners can focus on their education without fear. The department will continue to provide support to the affected learner and the school community, while also taking steps to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future,” Mboxela said. 

In a separate incident in the North West earlier this week, Education MEC Viola Motsuma condemned the actions of learners at the Hoër Tegniese Skool in Klerksdorp. 

On Tuesday, August 19, a group of learners entered the school restrooms, dressed in overalls and balaclavas, disrupting the teaching and learning environment at the school. 

A teacher who went to the restroom and encouraged the group to go to class was poured with water by the learners. They continued throwing papers at the teacher. 

The department’s spokesperson, Mphata Molokwane, said school staff responded immediately and removed the troublesome learners. 

“The school management finally succeeded in bringing order and sanity to the school, and eventually, normal academic activities resumed. An immediate investigation was initiated, and the learners involved were identified. Their parents were promptly informed of the incident,” Molokwane said. 

By Wednesday, all learners involved were suspended for five days. 

"This behaviour displayed by these learners is extremely barbaric and is unacceptable. We are not going to tolerate learners who assault our teachers; they do not belong in our schools. I am going to instruct the School Governing Body of this school to take drastic steps against these learners. The steps taken by the school should send a message to other learners to never attempt such horrible behaviour. I have instructed the district to arrange teachers and learners who have been affected by this incident,” MEC Motsumi said.

On Monday, a principal at a school in Gauteng was stabbed while trying to defuse a violent clash between learners from two different schools. The clashes were between learners from West Ridge High School and Hoërskool Roodepoort.  According to the Gauteng Education Department, the clash stems from a violent altercation between learners on Friday, August 15, that was filmed and went viral on social media. 

By Monday, the matter had escalated when a group of West Ridge learners allegedly sought revenge and went to Hoërskool Roodepoort, where they attacked learners and pelted cars with stones. 

While trying to defuse the situation, the principal of Hoërskool Roodepoort was stabbed and rushed to the hospital for treatment. She has since been discharged. Three learners from Hoërskool Roodepoort sustained serious injuries. 

The Department has confirmed six Grade 12 learners (boys) from West Ridge High School were suspended. 

robin.francke@iol.co.za

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