Gang fights have reportedly taken over some high schools in Ladysmith, placing children directly in harm’s way.
Schools are meant to be places of education and safety, yet many parents and teachers are concerned about the escalation in ‘gangsterism’ reported at institutions including Ladysmith Secondary School, where Toxic, Kalawa Fam and other gangs vie for supremacy.
Videos, believed to be taken at the school, depict learners fighting, swearing and throwing objects at one another. Some of these videos went viral on social media and most recently, the SAPS were called out after a learner was hit in the face with a brick, which was hurled at him during a brutal fight.
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Commenting on the matter, Warrant Officer BA Khan said Ladysmith SAPS had been informed about the gangsterism problem at the school and are in consultation with school management. Officers have attended to and resolved several issues over the past few months.
To date, no one is believed to have opened any cases of assault or intimidation.
Acting principal M Padayachee said, “The safety and security of every learner is a priority at Ladysmith Secondary School. The school acknowledges these sporadic outbursts and wishes to reassure the community that all possible measures within the scope of the South African School’s Act 84 of 1996 have been taken to put an end to these aggressive forms of behaviour.”
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