Teaching and learning at Ndlovukazi High School in Lesseyton came to a standstill on Wednesday as parents and pupils protested near the N6 demanding police ensure safe passage for those attending the school.
Last weekend’s killing of Sive Tabata, 22, in a tavern in Vrijini, an older part of Lesseyton, has led to a unrest in the village.
Pupils from Zola, a newer part of Lesseyton, claim to have been chased last week by a gang from Vrijini threatening to avenge the death of Tabata.
The children from Zola have to walk through Vrijini to reach Ndlovukazi High and Primary schools, and this led to police offering the Zola children a lift to school and back.
Parent Nompazamo Bereni said the children were afraid of going to school. “Our children received SMS’s threatening to kill three pupils from Zola after the death of Sive Tabata. They claim Sive’s death was the second death to be caused by someone from Zola,” she said.
She said police helped last week by transporting pupils to school, but on Friday they were told they would no longer transport them.
“We asked to continue until the end of the month but they declined. …we want this matter resolved,” she said.
Community police forum member Phumla Ndoqo said pupils are afraid of going to school.
“The police cannot continue with transporting these pupils and parents can’t also afford to pay transport for them. This situation is traumatising for our children,” she said.
Ndoqo encouraged all who had been sent SMS’s to report the threats to the police so they can be investigated.
Pupil Aneziwe Daniso said since the murder they had lived in fear. “Some of us are receiving SMS’s threatening to kill boys from Zola and rape girls. We want this to be resolved so that we can go to school like other pupils,” she said.
When Daily Dispatch arrived in Lesseyton on Wednesday, residents Siyabulela Shinto and Sakhele Kula were using their bakkies to transport pupils to school.
Kula said: “We decided to take loads transporting these pupils to school and back home. The school needs to take this matter seriously.”
School principal Andile Zumana said after the threats were reported to the school last week he called a meeting with the police, where they promised to transport the pupils.
“I don’t know what led to them stopping transport of these pupils as we agreed they would transport them until the situation calms down,” he said.
Provincial department of education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said in situations like these they ask police to assist them. “We also encourage social facilitation so that parents can talk about the issues affecting their children,” he said. — tembiles@dispatch.co.za
Threatened pupils protest for safety
Last weekend’s killing of Sive Tabata, 22, in a tavern in Vrijini, an older part of Lesseyton, has led to a unrest in the village.
Pupils from Zola, a newer part of Lesseyton, claim to have been chased last week by a gang from Vrijini threatening to avenge the death of Tabata.
The children from Zola have to walk through Vrijini to reach Ndlovukazi High and Primary schools, and this led to police offering the Zola children a lift to school and back.
Parent Nompazamo Bereni said the children were afraid of going to school. “Our children received SMS’s threatening to kill three pupils from Zola after the death of Sive Tabata. They claim Sive’s death was the second death to be caused by someone from Zola,” she said.
She said police helped last week by transporting pupils to school, but on Friday they were told they would no longer transport them.
“We asked to continue until the end of the month but they declined. …we want this matter resolved,” she said.
Community police forum member Phumla Ndoqo said pupils are afraid of going to school.
“The police cannot continue with transporting these pupils and parents can’t also afford to pay transport for them. This situation is traumatising for our children,” she said.
Ndoqo encouraged all who had been sent SMS’s to report the threats to the police so they can be investigated.
Pupil Aneziwe Daniso said since the murder they had lived in fear. “Some of us are receiving SMS’s threatening to kill boys from Zola and rape girls. We want this to be resolved so that we can go to school like other pupils,” she said.
When Daily Dispatch arrived in Lesseyton on Wednesday, residents Siyabulela Shinto and Sakhele Kula were using their bakkies to transport pupils to school.
Kula said: “We decided to take loads transporting these pupils to school and back home. The school needs to take this matter seriously.”
School principal Andile Zumana said after the threats were reported to the school last week he called a meeting with the police, where they promised to transport the pupils.
“I don’t know what led to them stopping transport of these pupils as we agreed they would transport them until the situation calms down,” he said.
Provincial department of education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said in situations like these they ask police to assist them. “We also encourage social facilitation so that parents can talk about the issues affecting their children,” he said. — tembiles@dispatch.co.za
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