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One child has been hospitalised, and another is in police custody following a school stabbing in Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal.
Imran Keeka, the Democratic Alliance (DA) KwaZulu-Natal Spokesperson on Education, explains that the stabbing occurred on Tuesday, 8 February 2022.
The school’s name must be withheld to protect the identities of the minors involved. However, Keeka notes that the DA is concerned about the incident, mainly because the stabbing could have been avoided.
“It is alleged that there was a bullying incident, which was reported to the principal, and not acted upon.”
With the school’s principal allegedly failing to intervene, Keeka claims the situation “spiralled into this heinous act of criminality on school grounds.”
After an alleged scuffle, the apparent bullying victim retaliated by stabbing his bully at school.
He is currently in police custody and is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, 10 February 2022. The other student, accused of being the bully and instigator of the scuffle, is being treated in a Ladysmith hospital.
“My interaction with SAPS suggested that they will thoroughly investigate the matter,” Keeka says.
Furthermore, he says he will write to Kwazi Mshengu, the KZN MEC for Education, to request that he investigate allegations that the principal did not act when the bullying issue was raised. Keeka will also ask Mshengu to investigate how weapons ended up on the school grounds.
“I am hopeful that the MEC will act swiftly to ensure that, at the very least, at this school, the levels of accountability and safety will be enhanced. We already know that school safety in KZN is already compromised,” Keeka concludes.
What are your thoughts on this, and how does this make you feel?
Share your views in the comment section below.
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Comments 5
This is not the first time many times before stabbings took place even a firearm was taken to school which was taken away by a teacher as if nothing happened I don’t think the department is aware off all these Incedents my daughter is so traumatized she doesn’t want to go back to school .we spoke to the principal to assist but got no joy the department must step in now what if tht pupil an other pupils were dead then what
Am langelihle’s classmate and I will remain anonymously how can this site DA or wat ever he is say that langelihle was a bully first of all the person that stabbed langelihle it’s not his first time stabbing someone now you are protecting him saying he is a victim and langelihle is a bully.langelihle is like a brother to us all in my class I won’t let this fake accusations saying that langelihle is a bully because he is injured and can’t talk for himself that’s trash
There are always 2 sides to a story assumptions can not be taken to be true until both parties have had their say. When there’s bullying involved the “bully” is not always the instigator or the one that causes the problems. Both parties should be investigated no only the assumed bully.
this disturbed learners i believe should be expelled from our innocent kids, because when we parents do not take
each other crisis serious bullying will not come to an end. We will continue suffer and face death of our kids on our hands, since we do not see wrong as long it not your kid being mistreated at school. I also faced my child being bullied at school until i take it up with the Principal and the SGB of the School
and the parent of the bully she never attended the meeting at all to show that there’s no manners at all
when you decide not to attend since your child is not bullied while your little monster is violating our kid’s right
Let not promote bullying /bullies win since some of our kid’s minds are weak to stand this .
BULLYING KILLS GUYS MARK MY WORD ,IT MIGHT BE NOT YOUR CHILD NOW BUT ONE DAY WILL BE YOUR LOVED ONE’S CHILD THEN IT WHEN YOU WILL TAKE A STAND LET WORK TOGETHER BEFORE IT TOO LATE
A WISE ONE IT BETTER TO START THE DAY EARLIER THAN LATER