School violence outside Sir Pierre widely condemned

THE stabbing of a Sir Pierre Van Ryneveld High School learner outside the school premises on Friday afternoon had been widely condemned.

The incident, which followed only days after violent behaviour by learners of Norkem Park High School, left a Sir Pierre learner seriously injured while another was beaten unconscious.

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Paramedics rushed to the scene to assist the wounded boy. Although it was initially thought the unconscious boy was a Panorama School learner, it was denied by both school principals.

Learners witnessing the fight recorded it on their cellphones. An edited version of happenings can be watched on Express’ website.

Dimitri Theron of Panorama and Margaret Wrigley of Sir Pierre both informed EXPRESS they knew of only one child from Panorama who was present outside Sir Pierre when the fight broke out in a park opposite the school. He left his bag in the area and it was later taken to Panorama.

Theron said he spoke to the child, who explained he had gone to Sir Pierre because his neighbour had told him he was being bullied by a schoolmate at Sir Pierre.

“From our knowledge the boy from Panorama was not involved in the fight. The boy who was beaten and left unconscious is not from Panorama but some college in Ekurhuleni. From our knowledge the child that pepper-sprayed a Sir Pierre learner is not a Panorama learner,” said Theron.

Wrigley said the incident was totally unacceptable and the school would not tolerate it.