Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi warned that more needs to be done to ensure the safety of learners and teachers at schools as he feels they have become sitting ducks for criminals.
Lesufi’s comments came after he attended the scene where the deputy principal of Edalinceba Primary School in Duduza, Nigel, was shot and killed this morning (September 26).
Deputy principal killed at school
MEC warns that something has to be done urgently:
“Schools are sitting ducks of criminals. I visit members of families of deceased nearly every week. Two weeks ago we had one of our security guards shot dead in one of our schools and now I must visit another family,” said Lesufi.
“The issue of crime and criminality within our school premises is really a disturbing trend.”
“I’ve expressed my views with the national minister, just to request her to intervene on our behalf. The number of incidents that are happening within our schools is really out of control and we need the police to prioritise this.”
Deputy principal shot four times
In his address to the media Lesufi explained what he had learned of the tragic event in Duduza.
“The diseased was coming back from class when was confronted by these people. They shot him four times and he died instantly,” he said.
The MEC explained that his department would do everything in their power to ensure that the needs of the traumatised learners and teachers are taken care of.
“The department will provide all need resources and capacity that is needed to console the both the school leadership and the learners tomorrow morning.”
“We will have the pastoral services and the counselling services available for the children.
“We have also requested that the police to maintain their presence, because if something of this nature has happened it becomes very difficult for staff members to feel safe to come back to work.”
“We have communicated with the police and they will assist us.”
“We have also addressed the staff members and consoled them and indicated to them that we are indeed sharing their grief and we will give them all the support they will need.”
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