Violent crime has yet again erupted in the Newcastle area, with an Osizweni, KwaZulu-Natal school principal being shot at by unknown gunmen.
The shooting took place at Idonsa Technical School on Wednesday morning at approximately 8:30 am. The armed men entered the schoolyard, making their way to the principal’s office. Once at the office, the men fired multiple shots before fleeing the scene.
Newcastle SAPS spokesperson Lizzy Arumugam explained that when police arrived at the school, “They found a security guard at the gates. He told them that two unknown males came and asked for the principal’s office.”
However, when the security guard explained to the men that they would first have to sign the register book before entering the school’s premises, the men refused and forced their way into the premises.
Arumugam pointed out that it was once they had forced their way into the school, that they entered the principal’s office and opened fire.
Miraculously, the principal sustained no injuries. However, Arumugam pointed out that the principal was taken to the hospital for shock and examination.
“Three projectiles were found on the scene and one empty cartridge,” added Arumugam.
At this time, there is no motive for the attack and Arumugam emphasised that further police investigations are underway.
“Anyone with information can please contact their nearest police station,” concluded Arumugam.
The KZN Democratic Alliance’s spokesperson on Education, Dr Imran Keeka said, “The recent dastardly attack on a Newcastle school principal must be condemned in the strongest terms.”
He added that the DA in KZN calls on SAPS to do everything possible to catch the culprits. “We also call on the local community to work with law enforcement to bring them to book. If anyone knows the identities of these alleged hitmen, we urge them to hand this information over. This can be done in an anonymous manner through SAPS and will go a long way to ensuring that this and other similar crimes come to an end,” emphasised Dr Keeka.
Adding to this, Dr Keeka said that school safety is severely compromised to the point, where a principal was shot and killed at a Pietermaritzburg school in broad daylight. “There have also been multiple stabbing incidents and an untold number of hostile acts on school premises across the province.”
Looking at the situation within schools, Dr Keeka highlighted that the DA has proposed a whole-of-society approach to school safety. “This programme needs to strive to create centres of excellence with strong community links, quality learning and teaching and effective management and governance. In so doing the root causes of crime and violence involving our facilities can be addressed,” he emphasised.
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