A holistic approach has been suggested to curb school violence following a spate of violent incidents in KwaZulu-Natal schools. 

Last Friday, a 17-year-old Trenance Park secondary school pupil was stabbed in the neck by a fellow pupil, aged 14. The knife was lodged in his neck. The pupil was rushed to the hospital, where the knife was removed. The perpetrator was expected in court on Monday for attempted murder. 

In another incident, pupils from Esther Payne Smith secondary school in Pietermaritzburg were involved in a clash. Two pupils aged between 15 and 17 sustained lacerations to the head and legs. Another pupil who is believed to have attacked the victims, was apprehended by a security company. 

DA KZN Education spokesperson Sakhile Mngadi said the party has consistently advocated for a whole-of-society approach to school safety. 

“When we talk about the whole-of-society approach, we need a solid school management team. We need parents and communities that are involved in the protection and ongoings of schools. We also need law enforcement to come on board. Every stakeholder that’s involved needs to be better supported so that we can get a handle on this,” Mngadi said. 

He said the party welcomes Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube’s school safety redesign plan. However, more resources are needed for school safety. 

He said they are also worried about escalating violence between young pupils. 

“Schools can only do so much. There needs to be an onus on parents and how parents are bringing up children and how children are being influenced by the violence they are seeing in the communities they come from,” Mngadi said. 

He explained that a school can be secure, but if a child comes from a violent community, they could enact the violence in the school setting. 

“There’s also an element from the side of social development and how we bring children up that needs to also be at play here because we are concerned about the escalating violence,” Mngadi said. 

National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) KZN chief executive officer Thirona Moodley said there have been other violent episodes that have not been brought to the public’s attention. 

She said these attacks are more exaggerated because of social media attention. 

“If this goes on, we will not be able to control the violence in schools,” Moodley said. 

She said a principal was stabbed for trying to break up a fight between pupils last week. 

“Teachers’ and learners’ lives are at stake. Schools must involve law enforcement through having random searches for weapons, and the schools must, on a regular basis, invite SAPS to give talks at their assembly. Learners must understand that they will be arrested and possibly imprisoned,” Moodley said. 

“The harsh realities of violence must be understood by our learners. The teachers and SGBs cannot do this alone; parents must also instill nonviolence at home. If this is going to continue unabated, we are going to have serious injuries and possibly fatal injuries to learners and teachers.”

Reacting to the stabbing of the Trenance Park secondary school pupil, KZN Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka said: “We are relieved to report that his condition is stable, and we remain hopeful for his full recovery.” 

Hlomuka stated that the department views school violence with utmost seriousness and is collaborating closely with the police to ensure perpetrators are held fully accountable.

“The safety and well-being of our learners remains our top priority. The department will continue to monitor the learner’s recovery while ensuring he receives academic support. We extend our sincere appreciation to the Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), the medical team for their swift intervention, and the teachers of Trenance Park secondary school for their dedication and support during this difficult time,” Hlomuka said. 

Hlomuka continued: “As a department, we condemn school violence; it has no place in our learning environments and in our communities.

“We wish the injured a speedy recovery.” 

thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za

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