Renewed wave of violence at Gauteng schools has MEC worried
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane says he is very concerned at what seems to be a growing number of incidents of ill-discipline and unruly behaviour by pupils at schools.
The department has received a number of reports detailing incidents of violence and ill-discipline among pupils at schools across the province.
Gauteng Education spokesperson Steve Mabona says a grade 8 pupil stabbed a grade 9 boy in the neck at Altmont Technical High School in Soweto on Wednesday.
The victim had to be rushed to hospital.
"Fortunately, the learner was discharged at midnight and is currently recovering at home. The perpetrator faces suspension and other pending disciplinary processes following this unlawful act," says Mabona.
In a separate incident on the same day, Wendywood High School in Sandton reported that a group of grade 12 pupils skipped school to go drinking at a nearby park.
"Thereafter, these learners came to school in the afternoon and started a fight with a group of grade 10 and 11 learners,” Mabona says.
“Subsequently, seven grade 12 learners were taken into custody by Sandton police officials following this incident. They have since been released on R 1 000 bail each, and they also face suspension and further disciplinary action for their unruly behaviour.”
A group of parents also locked the gate of at TM Lethlake Secondary School in Bekkersdal, thereby preventing pupils from attending class.
"These parents state that they were protesting for issues that include the appointment of a new principal, disciplinary action to be taken against educators who are allegedly not teaching learners, and the implementation of the school’s code of conduct against learner misconduct at the school," says Mabona.
An administrator has since been deployed to the school to ensure the resumption of learning and teaching at the school.
A grade 9 pupil has also been assaulted by five girls at Pretoria Central High School on Thursday
"The assault was with an intent to do grievous bodily harm as part of the learner’s hair was removed from her scalp, resulting to her head having bruises and swelling,” Mabona says.
“The perpetrating learners were identified and suspended. They await a disciplinary hearing for their actions."
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