Parents unite against violence at Minerva High School
After a violent incident involving learners and armed outsiders, parents at Minerva gathered to discuss the learners' safety, proposing morning patrols and calling for stronger parental responsibility.
Parents of Minerva High School learners met on May 21 to address escalating violence at the school.
The meeting which was proposed by former Minerva employee and EFF Ward 75 Chairperson Clive Mogale and parents was attended by various stakeholders including the school’s principal, Nontsikelelo Tsatsi, the School Governing Body (SGB), Community Policing Forum (CPF), Police officials and Congress of South African Students (Cosas).
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Some parents proposed solutions during their discussions, including morning patrols outside school gates to detect potential threats. While others, including members of the CPF stressed the need for parental intervention, emphasising that discipline begins at home.
The meeting follows an incident on May 20 in which armed suspects forcefully entered the school looking for a male learner accused of slapping a female learner known to them. The incident triggered panic as voice notes started to circulate on the community WhatsApp groups calling for police and patrollers to de-escalate the crisis. The police responded and arrested the suspects at the school. Parents also rushed to the school, demanding their children’s early release over safety concerns.
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Tsatsi confirmed that the school was handling the involvement of two learners in the incident. According to the Office of the VISPOL Support Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Ramathetje Makgati, the other suspects were in police custody.
Cosas representative Lufefe Khohlakala said they were concerned about learners’ safety at Minerva and wanted to hold a protest on May 21, but did not go through with it. “Cosas do not know if learners are safe inside the school, or if the suspects will come back,” he said.
The police called for collaboration among stakeholders to resolve the crisis, underscoring the need for unity in safeguarding Minerva’s learners.
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