Police arrest six individuals for escalating violence at Tsakane Secondary School
CRISIS IN EDUCATION
Gauteng police take action against school disruption as safety concerns escalate at Tsakane Secondary School.
Image: FILE
Gauteng police arrested five learners and a parent on Thursday, August 21, for repeatedly disrupting teaching and learning at Tsakane Secondary School.
Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said the arrests came after a series of troubling incidents, where a group of learners reportedly terrorised the school community through bullying, intimidation, and threats against fellow learners and educators.
Mabona stated that a group of boys reportedly hurled stones during Grade 12 camps, causing damage to recently replaced doors.
“It is alleged that the perpetrators recently pelted stones during Grade 12 camps, damaging newly replaced school doors, setting fire to toilets. On Wednesday, 20 August, the perpetrators threatened educators and learners with knives; blocked them from moving through passages and extorted them for money and phones during schooling hours.”
He added that one of the learners arrested had previously been suspended for attacking a female student with a chair, but kept returning to the school in defiance of disciplinary measures. Teachers have reportedly feared for their safety, with some too intimidated to return to their classrooms.
Mabona further revealed that after Wednesday’s incident, the learners returned to disrupt the Grade 12 preliminary examinations, allegedly encouraged by a parent who incited them to continue interfering with schooling.
“Today, the perpetrators allegedly disrupted schooling once again, disrupting the Grade 12 preliminary examinations as well. Educators and learners were traumatised by this incident. Sadly, the arrested parent of one of the perpetrators is alleged to have played a role in encouraging and supporting this disruptive behaviour from learners, further worsening tensions within the school environment,” he added.
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) commended the swift action by police, saying it should serve as a deterrent to anyone planning to disrupt schools.
The department also urged parents to take an active role in instilling respect and accountability in their children, warning that threats or intimidation directed at schools or staff will not be tolerated and will be dealt with through legal channels.
The GDE said that a psychosocial support team will be dispatched to the school to assist affected learners, while employee wellness services will be made available to support educators.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has strongly denounced the criminal and violent actions, emphasising that schools should be safe learning environments for all learners and educators, not places of fear or lawlessness.
“We remain resolute in our commitment to protect the right to education and to ensure that teaching and learning continue without disruption in Gauteng schools. We will not allow our schools to be turned into spaces of violence and intimidation.
''Every learner has a right to quality education, and every teacher has a right to a safe working environment. We commend the SAPS for taking decisive action and assure the community of Tsakane that order will be restored.”
The Star