A school principal from Pietermaritzburg died yesterday morning while trying to prevent a staff member from being shot.

“My brother died trying to make sure that a staff member was not shot at school.”

These were the words of the heartbroken businessman, Vusumuzi Sibiya, of Sibiya Funeral Services, whose brother was shot at Msunduzi Secondary School yesterday.

According to the family, Bongani Sibiya, who was the principal at Msunduzi Secondary, did his usual morning routine: He parked his car at the nearby carwash and went to school.

However, his family said, when he got inside his office, it was reported that he saw a man following him.

“The suspect then asked to speak to his wife (who is a staff member at the school).

“The deceased asked why the man was armed and he said, he wants to finish [his wife].

“[An argument ensued] and the man shot him with two bullets,” said the emotional Vusumuzi, adding that this incident has left them traumatised.

He described his brother as a very quiet and humble man. “He was a man with a vision. He was not supposed to die like this. I have faith that the police will find and arrest [the culprit].”

“My brother had not yet enjoyed his retirement money, as he had just received it in May, 2022. But it’s his calling; there’s nothing we can do,” he said.

Sibaya is a retired teacher from Siyahlomula Secondary school.

A concerned parent, who didn’t want to be named for safety reasons, said her grandchild, who is in Grade 12 was supposed to write a trial examination paper yesterday, but that did not happen due to the traumatic incident.

“[My child] has been in bed since he came home. You can see that the child is traumatised.

“These kids really need counseling. As parents we are very concerned about the safety of our kids after this incident,” she said.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said it is alleged that at 08:30, an employee was at her workplace, which is a school in Pietermaritzburg, when she was visited by a known man, who was aggressive.

“An argument ensued between the two and the principal tried to calm the situation, but was shot numerous times. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds on his body and was confirmed dead at the scene.

“A case of murder was opened at Pietermaritzburg police station for investigation,” Ngcobo confirmed.