Johannesburg - The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane to investigate the death of a grade 11 Qalabotjha Secondary School learner who was stabbed to death on Thursday.
DA Gauteng's shadow MEC for Education, Khume Ramulifho, said the MEC must immediately account for the circumstances that led to the death of the learner inside the school premises.
The DA in Gauteng demands that Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane, urgently intervene and ascertain the root cause of violence amongst the learners of Qalabotjha Secondary School in Vlakfontein which led to one learner being stabbed to death and another’s arrest.
"The DA condemns in the strongest terms any form of violence amongst the learners. Qalabotjha learners sadly witnessed a bloodbath yesterday when some of their schoolmates were involved in a vicious fight.
"We condemn this hooligan behaviour amongst learners. No learner should be in possession of a weapon, particularly on school premises, as this jeopardises their safety and the safety of their peers," Ramulifho said.
Ramulifho said he will demand that the MEC engage the school management and the School Governing Body (SGB) in order to find ways to curb violence in this school, especially during examination time.
"It is high time that the department implements an effective integrated school safety strategy which will involve different stakeholders such as law enforcement agencies, the Community Policing Forum, patrollers, parents, and community members to ensure the safety of all learners in all schools in the province," he said.
Police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that a 21-year-old Grade 11 learner was arrested for the alleged fatal stabbing of a fellow learner in Vlakfontein, south of Johannesburg.
Masondo said the pupil will be making his first court appearance at the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court this week, adding that investigations suggest that the incident happened after a fight involving a group of learners inside the school.
"Preliminary information suggests that a group of boys were fighting outside the school premises on Thursday, November 17, 2022, when a 20-year-old learner was stabbed with a sharp object on the upper body. The learner was taken to the nearest medical care centre, where he was certified dead," Masondo said.
He said police went searching for the suspects and arrested a fellow learner who has since been charged with murder. He said the motive for the incident has not yet been confirmed.
The Star