Four panga-wielding learners at a primary school in Fisantekraal reportedly stormed into the grade 6 class causing chaos last Wednesday.
Reports indicate that this was part of a fight between gang members who were looking for a specific learner.
Worried parents rushed to collect their children from the Trevor Manuel Primary School during school hours when news of the incident spread through the community.
Four boys, all learners from the school, reportedly stormed into the grade 6 class with pangas at about 10:00, according to Jessica Shelver, spokesperson for Debbie Schäfer, Western Cape minister of education.
“They were allegedly looking for a specific learner. This disrupted the classes at the back section of the school where the grade 6 and 7 learners are based.
“All the grade 6 and 7 learners were then assembled in the hall, where they were debriefed and counselling was made available,” she said.
“The police arrived at the school immediately and assisted the principal to calm the learners and educators.
“This is a small community so word about the incident spread quickly. Parents then came to collect their children.”
Learners at the primary school will be starting their exams soon.
According to a teacher, who wants to stay anonymous, the problems with gangs started last year already, but was nipped in the bud. He said the problem is with learners who dropped out of school.
According to Shelver a parent meeting was called for the same day. However it was not well attended and another meeting was scheduled for Friday at 18:00.
About ten learners were given letters to come to school with their parents this Monday at 07:30 to appear before the day committee of the school’s governing body.
According to Shelver the four boys with pangas managed to enter the school building because part of the fence at the back of the school is down.
“Although it was repaired by the department this year, the school is constantly faced with vandalism by the community.
“We find it very disturbing that people are prepared to damage a school classroom or steal resources that are meant to teach and protect young learners, often from the same community.
“While we can try to safeguard our schools with additional security measures, we cannot win the fight against burglary and vandalism without community support. Schools, given their extensive physical infrastructure, are very difficult areas to secure,” she said.
She said the education district and the school is working with Fisantekraal’s Won Life Early Learning Centre, a non-governmental organisation, to help with the erection of a proper and stronger fence around the whole school.
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