Schools are supposed to be safe places but many of them across the country are a breeding ground for criminal activities including murder, shooting, suicide, drugs, rape and arson.
The heinous crimes have been committed by learners and, at times, educators.
Just this week, two Grade 8 learners, aged 14, were nabbed and charged with arson after a fire at Lancea Vale Secondary School in Eldorado Park.
The fire damaged three classrooms in the grades 8 and 9 block. Preliminary reports indicate that it started in Room 81 on the first floor of Block C.
Whether the structure of the building was sound remains a concern.
“Police were conducting routine patrols when they noticed flames coming from the schools. They proceeded to the school where they were informed by the educators that the fire was started by some of the learners from the school,” Gauteng SAPS provincial spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said.
“Police started with the preliminary investigation which led to the arrest of two learners who are suspected to have started the fire,” Masondo said.
Gauteng Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC Matome Chiloane has said they would not tolerate violence.
“It is concerning that last Wednesday, there was a stabbing incident of a learner by another learner at the same school. We will not tolerate violence or gangsterism perpetuated in and around our schools,” Chiloane said.
Last Wednesday, two pupils were injured during a shooting at Willow Crescent Secondary School in Eldorado Park.
Recently, another shooting took place outside Kliptown Secondary School in Eldorado Park, Soweto. Shots were fired when two armed youth entered the premises.
A 17-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the murder of Deveney Nel, 16, a Grade 10 learner from Hoërskool Overberg.
She was found stabbed to death in the school storeroom earlier this month..
Nel was reported missing when her school hosted a sports day. The school yard became the focal point of investigations.
The suspect, who was known to Deveney and the rest of Hoërskool Overberg, was arrested by detectives from the Serious Violent Crime Unit last Friday. This after many interviews were carried out with learners and teachers at the school.
The teenager appeared in-camera in the Caledon Magistrate’s Court this week, while a group of protesters gathered outside, calling for justice for Deveney.
The accused was moved to a place of safety.
Recently, four schools in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, were closed after extortionist gangsters demanded a protection fee from them.
Earlier this month, two learners at a Tsakane high school in Ekurhuleni attempted to commit suicide after allegedly ingesting poison. One of them has since died.
Also earlier this month, a violent scene took place at Matsediso Primary School in Katlehong after panga-wielding Pastor Paseka “Mboro” Motsoeneng, his bodyguard, Clement Baloyi, and his son, Vincent Revival Motsoeneng, brandished dangerous weapons, endangering the lives of learners and teachers.
They are expected to reappear in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on October 21.
In July, a fire destroyed the school library, an office and three laboratories-turned-into classrooms, as well as the ablution block at Bluegumbush Secondary School in Qwa Qwa, Free State.
While no injuries were reported, the Free State Department of Education said police were investigating as arson was suspected.
In July, after the arrest of a male teacher, 33, employed at Mashashane Combined High School, for allegedly driving around Polokwane CBD and selling drugs, MEC for Education in Limpopo Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya said the department was disappointed.
Police found him in possession of drugs that have a street value of R20 000. They also found a loaded unlicensed firearm in his vehicle.
The teacher is in custody and is expected back in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court soon, on charges of drug dealing, drug possession and the possession of an unlicensed firearm with ammunition.
In May this year, a 47-year-old North West primary school teacher appeared in the the Wolmaransstad Magistrate’s Court in connection with the alleged rape of two minors, aged 12 and 14.
The teacher, from Leeudoringstad, was arrested after the mother and the principal opened a case at a police station.
In April, the police in Limpopo were investigating the alleged rape of a Grade 2 pupil inside a school toilet. The victim, 7, was allegedly raped by a Grade 7 pupil.
In February this year, a learner, 13, was arrested after he allegedly shot his principal at a school in Primrose, Ekurhuleni. It was reported that more educators were on the learner’s hit list. The principal has recovered and returned to the school.
Also in February, a teacher at Thoko Thaba Secondary School in Thokoza, Ekurhuleni, was allegedly found in possession of drugs on the school premises. The department said the teacher was found with the contraband on Valentine’s Day.
Police have confirmed that they were investigating various cases of school violence.
National Association of School Governing Bodies chairperson Matakanye Matakanya, speaking in an interview on eNCA this week, said they condemned incidents in schools, citing that schools were second homes for children.
Matakanya questioned where children should go if schools were closed because of extortionists.
He urged parents, communities and SGBs to take ownership of schools.
“These criminals cannot overpower parents and communities. You know these people (criminals); they are living within communities. Chuck them out or report them to police,” Matakanya said.
He said that in the Katlehong incident, when a trusted member of the community, Pastor Mboro, armed with guns and pangas, had gone to a school, the community had sorted him out and put pressure on the justice department to ensure that he was taken into custody.
“If it wasn’t for the community, he would have bribed his way out. We call on communities and parents to participate in schools to decrease incidents in schools,” Matakanya said.
Saturday Star