The killing of an Eastern Cape primary school principal in an incident linked to extortion points to a failure of the security system.
That is according to the chairperson of Parliament’s select committee on education, sciences and creative industries, Makhi Feni, following the killing of the Zakhele Primary School principal at KwaBhaca in the Alfred Nzo West District last week.
The incident has reignited calls for the state to deploy increased security measures in education facilities at risk of being targeted.
Teaching and learning at the school is expected to resume on Monday after classes were dismissed from Wednesday following the brazen incident in front of teachers and pupils on the school premises.
The incident came as the police’s senior management placed the Eastern Cape in the spotlight following a spike in cases involving the targeting of schools, businesses and organisations for “protection fees”.
A nurse at Efata School for the Blind in Mthatha became one of the latest victims when criminals stormed her home.
In both the shooting of the principal and the incident at the nurse’s home, a sum of R50000 was allegedly demanded.
The principal was shot dead after apparently refusing to pay the protection fee. According to Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade, the suspected killer, who was on foot, disappeared into a nearby forest.
“The police were called to the scene and they quickly responded with dogs but the perpetrator was not found,” Gade said. “District officials, led by the Circuit Manager Centre, rushed to the school on the same day for support.
“A school governing body meeting is scheduled (for today) to brief everyone about the case and the plan of the department to support the school.
“The district psychosocial support has been activated. As such, social workers will visit the school to conduct counsel to both the teachers and learners,” said Gade.
In regard to the Efata School for the Blind incident, Gade said: “The criminals demanded a R50 000 ransom from the school's nurse.
“Upon his refusal, they took his mobile phone, laptop and television.
The same criminals sent a short message (SMS) to the school principal demanding the same ransom.
“A case of extortion has been opened with the police and an investigation is under way.
“The department has referred the matter to the police, while internally the department is strengthening its security system.”
Police are investigating both cases and arrests have yet to be made.
Last month, also in the Mthatha area, the Sinolwazi Senior Secondary School, Bambanani Junior Secondary, Maholweni Junior Secondary and Laphumikhwezi Junior Secondary School were also affected after people demanded money, with some teachers from these schools threatened and in one instance assaulted.
Gade said the security and justice cluster must appreciate the dire long term effects of the scourge.
“We need to go back to the drawing board, review the existing strategy and execution plan for us to yield different results,” he said.
In the top 30 national stations for murder, Mthatha ranked at number 18.
Department of Basic Education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said: “We are extremely concerned about the increasing violence affecting learners and educators inside school premises in particular and elsewhere in the community.
“We hope the police will find and arrest the perpetrators in these cases and bring them to face the full might of the law. It’s about time members of the community assist the police to arrest the criminals.”
Feni condemned the attacks on schools and the principal’s murder.
“The committee sends its heartfelt condolences to the members of the family, teaching colleagues as well as learners who witnessed this incident.
It was clear these thugs are armed and kill at will.
“This means police should take all necessary precautions and a defensive stance when dealing with these thugs and when on patrols or operations.
“This was the time police needed to aggressively act as the province risks compromising the end-of-year exams.
“This is unacceptable, an abhorrent violent act accompanied by selfishness.
This points to a failure of the security system,” said Feni.
Cape Times