Learners demand alleged killers to be denied bail
Three suspects appeared before the Tsakani Magistrate's Court on Monday morning.
Tsakani – Learners from various secondary schools in Tsakani, Duduza and Kwa-Thema picketed outside the
Tsakani Magistrate’s Court demanding bail to be denied to the three men charged with the murder of Shaun Mphela.
They have also vowed there will be no learning and teaching in the area until allegations of racial discrimination at Geluksdal Secondary School are resolved.
The men are charged with the murder of Mphela, who was stabbed to death last Thursday afternoon.
A fight allegedly broke out after three learners started pepper spraying other learners during school hours.
Mphela and other learners cautioned the group, but they threatened to finish the fight outside the school grounds.
ALSO READ: Municipal worker arrested for driving under the influence
The group allegedly alerted older gang members to wait outside the school grounds where Mphela and his friends were attacked after school.
The Pan Africanist Student Organisation (PASO) has vowed there would be no school until someone has been deployed to search learners in the morning and after school daily until the situation is under control.
PASO secretary Busisiwe Shezi said they are demanding the police to lead and facilitate stakeholder meetings to address allegations of discrimination at the school.
“We are pinning our hope on the police as the Gauteng Department has continuously failed the learners in this area.
“We are tired of GDE MEC coming to Tsakani, doing a fashion parade. We have no trust in these politicians. We want the police to take over and lead the process,” she added.
The formal bail hearing was postponed to February 15 and the suspects remain in police custody.
The spokesperson of Gauteng Education, Steve Mabona, urged learners to go back to class and allow the police and the court to handle the case.
“Not going back to school will not assist anyone. We are urging parents to talk to their children to return to school.
“We would like to continue with the psychological support for those affected,” he added.
