GRADE 12 LEARNER STABBED AT SCHOOL BY ANOTHER LEARNER
The North West Education MEC, Mmaphefo Matsemela condemned in strongest terms the stabbing of a Grade 12 learner (23 years old) by another Grade 12 learner (21 years old) which happened in the school premises of Kebonang Secondary School on Thursday, 17 October 2019, Mmabatho near Mafikeng.
It is alleged that there was a physical fighting after school between two learners wherein the security personnel reprimanded the two learners to stop fighting. The physical fighting continued irrespective of the earlier intervention by the security personnel. It is reported that, the other learner rushed out of school and came back with a knife. He chased the learner who tried to separate them and stabbed him six holes from the back.
The securities managed to step in on time and the injured learner was taken for safety at the staff room. The school called the police and ambulance. He was rushed to Bophelong Hospital wherein, he was stitched and later discharged.
Upon receiving the news MEC Mmaphefo Matsemela went to Kebonang Secondary to meet with the school management.
“On behalf of the department I would like to condemn this uncivilized incident of learner stabbing another learner. Our schools are centres of learning and teaching not battle fields. We are not going to harbour criminals in our schools, the law must take it own cause. Our primary responsibility is to teach learners and we do not teach them to stab other learners”, said Matsemela.
MEC highlighted that schools should ensure their school safety and admission policies are known by learners and teachers.
“Everybody at school should know and understand the school safety policy and admission policies. Schools should refer elder learners to relevant centres for adult learning. An elderly learner should be admitted at school unless under extreme circumstances. The same age cohort learners at school do not bully each other but they love and care for each other”, said MEC.
MEC Matsemela insisted that the school should institute the disciplinary processes with immediate effect against the learners who have contradicted with the code of conduct. Matsemela further indicated that, the learner who has allegedly stabbed another learner should be provided with an alternative examination centre since his safety was not guaranteed at the school.
The injured learner reported to school on the next day after being discharged from the hospital. Counselling for the learners and teachers has been arranged.
The school has a total of five security personnel, 3 works during the day shift whilst 2 works during the night shift and they are paid by the school.
