A FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD Grade Eight learner from Centenary Secondary School reels in trauma following an incident of a violent clash that took place three weeks ago at the school.

She was a victim of alleged gun-pointing by a SAPS member who was one of the crowd controllers on the day of the incident. She described that when violence erupted at the school, the school instructed them to leave the premises, forcing an early closure at 09:00. Some of the learners allegedly tried to force their way in, to escape danger outside the gate. Most of them ran away, while some had nowhere to go because their parents had not arrived for pick-ups.

She was horrified when a rifle was pointed at her by the police officer who shouted at her to “go away”. She said she and other learners, whose uniforms were torn, while others who were physically injured, ran away. “It was a terrifying moment, I froze for a minute. I had not experienced such a confrontation in real life, and it was an experience that would stay in my mind forever.”

Also read: Violent clash leads to early closure at Asherville school

She added, “I used to think police officers were supposed to protect us. My trust in them has been greatly ruined.”

Her parents opened a case with Sydenham police station. Captain Carmen Rhynes of eThekwini District SAPS said, “A case of pointing of firearm has been opened at Sydenham SAPS and will be further investigated.”

Initially Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) had received the case, however it was later returned to Sydenham police station. In their reply to Berea Mail’s enquiry, IPID said, “The SAPS are bringing the docket to the IPID Office and then IPID will consider the complaint further.”

Later the investigative body shared, “IPID has gone through the docket and there was no police assault or brutality. The docket has been sent back to the station for investigations.”

The KZN Department of Education replied, “It is government protocol that they (IPID) are the ones who deal with such incidents. The issue of the behaviour of police is handled by IPID.”

Also read: Centenary Secondary School: Parents call for principal’s exit

School principal, Douglas Gounden, said he could not comment, “Please be informed that any communication regarding the incident on February 4 will be through the Department of Education communications department.”

The parents are adamant that justice should be served and that the implicated police officer must face the wrath of the law. No apology will ever suffice, they said. “The incident reminded us of the 1976 Soweto students’ uprising, where police officers brutalised students.”
The learner is grateful for the emotional support she has been receiving from her parents throughout this episode. “Their support has definitely lightened the emotional load and fear I had been carrying.”

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