PUPILS and teachers at Letshele Secondary School in Violetbank near Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, fear for their lives.
They claim a gang of pupils dubbed "Bad Company Boys", who were either suspended and expelled from the school, are allegedly terrorising the school.
Teachers embark on a strike
Daily Sun can reveal that more than 33 teachers belonging to the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) embarked on a go-slow strike from the aggressive notorious gang that is continuing to disrupt classes while they flash knives.
The gang allegedly manhandled one of the teachers and threatened to finish them off with knives.
They allegedly looted the school's feeding scheme and sold nyaope to the pupils.
SGB chairman confirms the incident
A worried School Governing Body (SGB) chairman, Joel Malomane, confirmed the incident to Daily Sun.
"We can confirm the gangsterism activities by suspended and expelled boys from the school accompanied by some community members.
"They gain access to the school by cutting open the palisade fence to sell nyaope and other drugs to the pupils. They also disrupt lessons, intimidating pupils and teachers," Malomane said.
He said on Wednesday, 30 August, two of the gang members flashed a knife at a teacher and allegedly manhandled him.
"Police were here, but we have arranged an urgent meeting with parents before laying charges," Malomane added.
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Sadtu Provincial Secretary Walter Hlaise said: "Sadtu condemns in the strongest terms any form of criminality perpetrated against pupils and teachers in line with its I AM A SCHOOL FAN campaign. We call on the department to provide security to the school and for law enforcement to deal with this matter urgently."
Department of Education speaks
Mpumalanga education spokesman Jasper Zwane said the department was monitoring the developments at the school.
He said the preliminary report indicated that no case had been lodged with the school or police relating to these allegations.
"The teacher who is said to have been threatened was not in a position to corroborate the allegations. Be that as it may, the department views the safety of learners and teachers as paramount, and it continues to urge teachers, pupils and the community at large to report incidences which have a potential to compromise their safety or learning and teaching," Zwane said.
Case not registered with police
Colonel Donald Mdhluli said there is no case opened about the alleged incidents.
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