Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, condemns the recent acts of gang-related violence that have affected schools in Orange Farm, calling for urgent community intervention and intensified safety measures from law enforcement agencies to protect learners and educators.
This follows recent deeply disturbing incidents of gang-related violence that have disrupted schooling and endangered the safety of learners and educators at Thetha Secondary School and Vulanindlela Secondary School.
In an incident reported this morning on Wednesday, 16 April, at Vulanindlela Secondary School, four learners were involved in a physical altercation as schooling began. A Grade 11 learner was unfortunately stabbed and rushed to the clinic, while the Grade 10 perpetrator was apprehended by school patrollers and is currently in police custody. It is encouraging that police have committed to maintaining patrols in the area for the next coming few weeks.
In a separate incident at Thetha Secondary School, an unfortunate series of events were triggered by a stabbing incident in the community on Friday, 11 April, involving a learner from said school and a known gang member. In what appears to be an act of retaliation, members of the gang targeted the same learner at the school premises on Monday morning, 14 April.
No fatalities of school learners who may have been involved in both incidents were reported. However, the GDE is working closely with law enforcement agencies to verify all reported incidents and suspects to ensure the safety of all learners and educators. Due to the heightened tensions and ongoing safety concerns, schooling has been disrupted not only at Thetha Secondary but also at nearby primary schools.
The GDE, together with SAPS, has taken immediate steps to stabilise the situation concerning violence at schools in Orange Farm. These include increasing police visibility around the schools and surrounding areas, with regular patrols, search operations that will ensue at the schools, employee wellness and psychosocial support teams being deployed to provide necessary support to learners and educators affected by these incidents.
The School Governing Body (SGB) of both schools will suspend and initiate disciplinary processes against the identified learners involved in this series of violent conduct. Learners are encouraged to return to school as police have committed to patrolling their schools.“Indeed, we unequivocally condemn all acts of violence and gang-related activity on and around school premises. We are committed to ensuring that our schools remain safe spaces for learning and development. Any learner found to be involved in gang-related violence will be suspended with immediate effect and subjected to formal disciplinary proceedings,” said MEC Chiloane.
“We call on all parents, guardians, and community members to work with the Department to instil discipline and support efforts to protect the future of our learners. Our learners deserve an environment free from fear and violence,” the MEC added.
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