The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) says it is monitoring the situation at a number of schools in Dobsonville, Soweto, and has already deployed patrollers to all the neighbouring schools that could be at risk of an unknown group terrorising learning instutions in the area.

Soweto Urban News reported last week about an incident at the George Khosa Secondary School where a group of armed males forcefully entered the school through the front gates and proceeded to a few classrooms creating chaos.

The department said it was looking into the reason for the breach of security and the incidents thereafter will be investigated to establish facts.

As the perpetrators exited the school, a scuffle broke out with some of the learners which led to one learner being stabbed and another being beaten up.

“Our psychosocial support team was dispatched to the school to provide the necessary support. Learners and staff have been addressed accordingly,” said GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona.

It is understood that according to the department, a meeting was held to inform parents of the incident and to give them a plan on processes to be improved to reduce the risk of a similar incident recurring.

“As the department we continue to strongly condemn any acts of misconduct by anyone which seeks to undermine the dignity of our learning institutions.

“We urge all stakeholders not to disrupt schooling as lost contact time is not easily recovered,” said Mabona.

“Learners must also refrain from acts of misconduct in schools and implore parents to assist the department in instilling learner discipline in and outside the school environment.”

He added that while police investigations are underway, the department is in communication with the local CPF.