LISTEN: Trauma at Dayveton school after learner is set alight
Learners at Unity Secondary School in Dayveton have spoken about their trauma after a 17-year-old from nearby Ntsikana Primary School was set alight outside the school on Wednesday.
The 17-year old was accused of being a gang member by the community.
He is recovering in hospital.
The community took him to the school, where they insisted that he identify other members of the gang.
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi and Gauteng Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane visited the school on Friday.
“The learners are traumatized because they saw someone being burnt in front of their eyes. The trauma has caused absenteeism and tests have been postponed. So, what is the government doing about our safety? Because these people came into our school, pushed everyone and caused chaos, from that day things have not been well at school,” said one of the learners.
Five people were attacked, leaving one person dead.
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Nkosi-Malobane says there is currently no evidence linking any of those identified by the community to criminal activities.
Three people who took part in the mob attack have since been arrested and more arrests are expected.
There are also reports that the gang is planning to retaliate by destabilizing the area on Friday night.
Nkosi-Malobane says they will deploy police officers to the school.
“We will deploy the police in this school in particular for the next three weeks just to ensure the children feel safe. We will also be having programs with students in this school and other affected schools,” she said.
Lesufi said counseling would be provided for learners and teachers ahead of their preliminary examinations.