TWO learners are confirmed dead following a violent altercation at a traditional ceremony in Mthonjaneni, near Melmoth, last week.
The incident occurred on Thursday and was referred to as a potential ‘faction fight’ by the IFP’s KZN Provincial Spokesperson, Blessed Gwala.
While Gwala understood that four learners from Nxusa High School were killed in the altercation, police have confirmed the deaths of only two.
Details surrounding this incident are sketchy, but an investigation is underway.
‘Our concern is that it is a well known fact that when faction fights erupt, it does not end with those involved but escalates to a situation where even elders are involved in order to seek revenge, especially if they lost loved ones,’ said Gwala.
‘It is very worrying because it has been reported that those who have killed the learners have stated they are coming back for others.
‘It is further concerning because these learners travel to school on the same bus.
‘Now one wonders what will happen if they meet again on the way to school.’
Gwala called upon Amakhozi, Izinduna and councillors to urgently call an imbizo to prevent the spread of further violence.
‘We cannot allow this situation to get out of hand. We must stop the bloodshed urgently.’
He said the KZN MECs for Education and for Community Safety and Liaison should intervene and those found providing weapons to the learners must be held responsible.
In a separate incident, one Nkandla bus passenger died and another was seriously injured after reportedly being stabbed by a high school learner.
ALSO READ: Schoolboy stabs bus passenger to death in Nkandla
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