Osizweni school principal escapes death after being shot at three times
The source believed the hit was planned as the gunmen walked directly into his office, fired the shots and fled the scene.
An Osizweni school principal is currently being treated for trauma and shock after four men entered his office and fired multiple shots at him on Wednesday morning, January 25.
The motive for the ambush remains unknown and a police investigation is continuing. According to information obtained by a national media publication, four armed men entered the premises of Indonsa Technical High School shortly before 8:30am.
The source believes the hit was planned as the gunmen walked directly into his office, fired the shots and fled the scene. Miraculously, the principal was not injured.
The shooting has been confirmed by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education.
“The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education can confirm that the principal of Indonsa High School in Newcastle was attacked by gunmen in his office this morning. He was shot three times, but each shot missed him. He was rushed to hospital for trauma treatment,” said Muzi Mahlambi, a spokesperson for the DOE.
It was further reported that Thirona Moodley of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) claimed violence in schools had become a widespread, disrupting teaching and learning.
“It is unfortunate that our teachers and principals are victims of crime within the school. We call for the protection of teachers and students during school hours, as well as for the community to protect and identify the perpetrators of these acts,” Moodley said.
Moodley further stated that as a union, they had approached the department numerous times about violence in schools and asked them to increase and improve school security.
“School violence has been on the rise. Our schools have turned into a haven for thugs and criminals. To reduce these incidents, schools and communities must work together. The department cannot do this alone; we have asked the department to improve school security, but nothing has been done. Law enforcement should be visible around schools. Criminals enter our schools because they know the police will not respond immediately, so surveillance by the SAPS would be effective,” Moodley said.
Doctor Ngema, general secretary of the National Teachers’ Union, said it was shocking that a principal was attacked inside a school.
“We are concerned about what is happening in the country that makes our teachers and school administrators targets. We are, however, relieved that the principal survived the attack,” Ngema said, adding that ‘there is a need for the department to protect the teachers, learners and schools because schools are government institutions like clinics, hospitals and Home Affairs. We also advocate for the hiring and equipping of more well-trained security guards.”
Read original articles here:
- School principal survives shooting after gunmen attack office
- Call for better school security in KZN as unions slam attack on Newcastle school principal
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