THE Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) believes police should carry out airport-style security checks for weapons to ensure safety in schools.
According to IFP Provincial Spokesperson on Education, Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa, officers with hand-held metal detectors should conduct random searches to gauge the extent of violence.
This following a tragic death of a 17-year-old Grade 9 pupil at Hlamvana High School in eSikhaleni last Tuesday.
Lungisani Ngema was stabbed to death outside the school gate at 2pm, by a 15-year-old pupil from the nearby uMkhobose Primary School.
He had just finished writing his examination when a group of unknown assailants approached him, and one plunged a knife on his chest.
He died inside the school premises soon after, and the attacker fled the scene.
‘Schools should be a safe space for all. Checks should be carried out with the co-operation of school management teams and parents.
‘This latest incident shows clearly that not enough is being done to remedy the problem of violence in schools.
‘We are concerned that the provincial education department does not have effective plans to address these incidents.
‘Teachers and pupils are exposed to a climate of fear and trauma,’ she said.
Bullying a contributing factor
Madlopha-Mthethwa also said school bullying and relationships between peers might be a major factor toward the increase of armed pupils in schools.
‘ We suggest that there should be a better education and counselling of pupils to stop them carrying dangerous weapons. We want a national system of recording violent incidents in schools, and we believe there are many of which are not being reported.,’ she said
ESikhawini SAPS spokesperson Lt Thembinkosi Mkhumane, said the search to the attacker was still ongoing.
‘Police have searched his house several times with no avail. All his friend refuses to tell the police of his whereabouts, but we will not rest until he is brought to justice,’ he said.
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