MPHATSENI – Grade 12 science pupils at Siphumelele Secondary School were forced to put their trial examinations on hold last Friday when some of their disgruntled peers went on a rampage and destroyed property following a routine police search.
The department promised to prepare another paper for the them. Pupils became unruly after police confiscated their cellphones during a search campaign. During the exercise, police found dagga, an axe, knives and other dangerous objects.
“Pupils started throwing stones on the roof and eventually broke windows. This was followed by chairs being thrown out of classrooms. The public-order police cluster was called in and pupils were dispersed,” said the provincial spokesperson for the police, Sgt Gerald Sedibe. Later that evening, a group of community members arrived at the school and vandalised the buildings.
They broke into the staffroom and the storeroom, and stole food and the teachers’ chairs. “As soon as police arrived again, the perpetrators ran away and no suspects were arrested,” said Sedibe.
Spokesperson for the Department of Education,
Mr Gerald Sambo said, “It was agreed at a parents meeting that the school premises will be properly cleaned and learning and teaching will continue as normal.”
