Durban — School safety has come under the spotlight yet again after a teacher at Phikiswayo Primary School in Ntuzuma, Durban, was gunned down at the school premises on Monday morning.
It is alleged that a 46-year-old woman teacher was shot and killed by suspects who fled after the shooting, leaving her lifeless body in the school yard.
National Teachers’ Union (Natu) secretary general Doctor Ngema said the union is profoundly disheartened and shattered by the news of the killing of the teacher.
“It was reported that she was in her classroom, preparing to receive learners when two men entered the school premises pretending to be searching for a lost school jersey, opened fire and shot the defenceless teacher.
“The teacher reportedly tried to run away, but the suspects pursued her and shot her multiple times at close range, in full view of learners who were gathered for prayers, before fleeing. They also said that the gunmen were not registered in the visitors’ book at the point of entry,” Ngema said.
SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) provincial secretary in KwaZulu-Natal, Nomarashiya Caluza, said security at schools is a growing concern that needs to be reviewed.
In the past, schools were looked after by community members, she said. Later, there were strategies in place for a security officer to be at the school, however, these incidents (shootings and robberies) proved security is an issue that has to be revised by stakeholders, Caluza said.
“It is disheartening to think that criminals target schools vulnerable to crime.
“There should not be a pupil or teacher who feels unsafe at schools but now that is not the case,” she said.
Responding to the incident, Natu president Sibusiso Malinga said they are stunned by the incident as they continue to advocate for safe schools.
“How many more teachers should die on school premises before the Department of Education realises the necessity to put safety and security measures in place at our schools?
“Trained security personnel would have registered and searched these men before authorising their entry into the school.
“We urge law-enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned in probing this matter so that the perpetrators are identified and brought to book to secure justice for the victim and her family. We need to send a clear message that our schools are not combat zones,” he said.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education said it was deeply distressed to confirm that a female educator was tragically shot and killed.
The district director, circuit managers, and representatives from the Special Needs Education Services (Snes) have been dispatched to the scene to provide support and assistance to the affected parties.
KZN Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka said that the department condemned this senseless act of violence and called upon law enforcement to expedite their investigation to ensure justice was served.
He urged anyone with information to assist the police.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of a dedicated educator. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and school community during this devastating time,” he said.
Vee Gani, chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Parents’ Association, said concrete action should be taken immediately to address security issues at schools so that this incident does not become another discussion around crime and be forgotten until the next incident.
Gani called on the department to make money available so that schools are protected, including the deployment of security guards.
Gani said schools have become easy targets for criminals. Gani said the law must take its course and those involved must be caught and imprisoned.
“When educators are killed, school children are left traumatised. There is a sense of fear now in that school.
“Learning takes place under a blanket of fear. Educators belong to the state and should be protected. When will it stop? There should be heavy penalties from the courts on those involved in vandalism of schools or crime on school property,” Gani said.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said that police in Ntuzuma were investigating a case of murder following an incident in which a 46-year-old woman was shot and killed inside school premises at Richmond Farm in Ntuzuma on Monday morning.
“Information at the police’s disposal at this stage indicates that two unknown suspects fired several shots at the victim before fleeing from the scene. The woman was declared dead on the scene,” he said.
Netizens took to Facebook to express their shock and called for security at schools.
Skhumbuzo Mtileni said there needs to be a restructuring of the policing system.
He also said that the way “we” have so many numbers of SAPS officers in Parliament, “we” can also deploy SAPS officers in and around public facilities like government schools, hospitals etc, which are the facilities left at the mercy of criminals.
Njabulo Marxist Ngubane also called for armed and trained security officers at government institutions.
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