Police called to separate fighting pupils

Motorists in Jules Street were witness to disturbing behaviour displayed between Malvern Primary, Hillcrest Primary and Denver Primary pupils on November 19.

Sporadic violence has erupted over the past few weeks between the schools, with the ‘war’ spiralling out of control. Scholars from all three schools interrupted Jules Street traffic at about 2pm on Wednesday afternoon. Fists, profanity and further threats went flying while traffic showed no sign of stopping.

Pupils from grade R to grade 7 ran into the middle of Jules Street, which at that time of day experiences heavy traffic volumes.

A Cleveland SAPS vehicle stopped, but even the presence of police officers did not stop the violence.

Bumper to Bumper’s Patrollers chased the pupils back onto the pavement and assisted in separating the pupils who were fighting.

The fights then moved to in front of Malvern Primary School, progressing along St Frusquin Street and back down into Persimmon Street.

Spectator value only spurred on the savagery displayed.

When the Cleveland SAPS was called to the scene, one individual showed a blatant disregard for their presence, walked right past the officers and tried to continue with the physical confrontation. The officers quickly diffused the situation.

The CCPF’s Sector 3 chairperson, Ms Bernadette Wentzel said, “These incidents of bullying are extremely problematic. If this is what the youth is capable of now, just imagine what they will be like in high school. The grade 7’s have a good chance of being zoned to the same high schools and if parental and school intervention is not taken now, there is guaranteed to be further mayhem.” Police

She urged parents to not just brush off the incident until something more drastic happens.

“The rage displayed by these minors is rather unsettling and even though the Cleveland SAPS was called and reacted immediately, the minors have no respect for authority. There have been further threats that the behaviour displayed could be continued,” she said.

“What was just as disturbing as this hooliganism, was the fact that only a handful of the many adults around tried to intervene. The apathetic attitude of adults in Malvern is a symptom of an entirely dysfunctional community,” said Ms Wentzel.

Ms Wentzel extended thanks to Mr Andrew Vosloo, as well as the other patrollers from Bumper to Bumper, Mrs Jacqueline Madiba-Chinembiri, Mrs Mary Tintinger, the Cleveland SAPS and the few other unnamed but respected citizens for their immediate intervention. She also thanked Mr Andrew Chinembiri, from Katia ECD, who pledged to assist in finding a solution to the situation.

Mr Andrew Andrew Chinembiri urged parents to speak to their children about their unacceptable behaviour.

He said there is not much the teachers can do when the children are outside the school premises.

“It is important to create awareness and parents need to be aware of what their children do after school,” he said.

The Cleveland SAPS spokesperson, Constable Mpho Mashakane, confirmed that the police were called in to disperse the fight between the pupils.

She could not confirm what the fight was about, or if it was a fight between the schools or individual children.

Hillcrest Primary School and Denver Primary School’s principals did not know anything about the incident.

Attempts to contact Malvern Primary School were unsuccessful at the time of going to print.

Andrew Vosloo can be contacted on 011 622-2925 (H) or 011 615-0397.

Mrs Jacqueline Madiba-Chinembiri can be contacted on 083 962 6373.

Mrs Tintinger can be contacted on 083 548 8301.

Andrew Chinembiri can be contacted on 071 083 4884.