Police in KwaZulu-Natal are investigating a murder and robbery case after a security guard was killed at Inanda Comprehensive High School in Durban on Friday. The incident occurred when five suspects attempted to break into the school's strong room but were thwarted. They then broke into the principal's office and stole confiscated cellphones and petty cash. When the security guard intervened, he was overpowered and shot.
The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Education, Sipho Hlomuka, visited the school on Monday and called on the community to help police catch the killers. Hlomuka expressed concern about the trauma the incident may have caused among the school community, particularly with just 22 days to the start of the National Senior Certificate examinations. He promised that the department would provide trauma counseling to those affected.
In a separate incident on Friday, three Grade 12 learners were shot at Bukimvelo High School in the Ezibayeni Circuit. An unknown gunman opened fire on a crowd of learners leaving the school premises after attending a Physical Sciences revision session. The learners, identified as Mthethwa Khetha, Hadebe Thandolwethu, and Mahlaba Sbahle, were wounded and taken to hospital with injuries ranging from a fractured arm to leg injuries.
Hlomuka described the shooting incidents as "appalling acts of violence" that have no place in or around schools. He emphasized that schools must be safe spaces for teaching and learning, and that it is unacceptable for criminals to target schools and put the lives of learners, educators, and support staff at risk. The department's Specialised Needs Education Services team provided psychological support to learners on Monday.
The National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA) has called for urgent, coordinated action to improve safety at schools in the wake of the Inanda High School incident. Spokesperson Thirona Moodley said the tragedy was a stark indication that violence in schools is escalating to a crisis point. NAPTOSA is concerned about the apparent absence of a comprehensive plan to confront the growing scourge of violence in schools.
Hlomuka said his department, in collaboration with the Department of Social Development, would provide trauma counseling to those affected by the incidents. He also announced that a team of circuit managers would be deployed to visit the affected families and provide support. The department will work with the school and relevant safety and security stakeholders to assess the situation and identify measures to strengthen school safety and security.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Thenjiswa Ngcobo said Inanda SAPS were investigating a case of murder and robbery. The police are searching for the suspects involved in the murder of the security guard and the separate shooting incident. The incidents have sparked concerns about school safety and the need for urgent action to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
Key points
- The incidents have raised concerns about school safety and the need for urgent action to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
- The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Education has promised trauma counseling to those affected by the incidents.
- The police are investigating a case of murder and robbery in connection with the killing of the security guard.
