Motshekga calls for swift arrest of Cape Town school teacher killers

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has called for the swift arrest of those responsible for the murder of a school teacher in the Western Cape on Tuesday.

According to the department of basic education, a teacher was killed inside school premises at Heinz Park Primary school in Phillipi in the Western Cape on Tuesday.

The 56-year-old teacher was reportedly sitting in his car at the school’s parking lot in the morning when he was approached by two gunmen.

The motive of the murder is still unknown at this stage.

“The number of violent crimes taking place against our teachers, in schools or anywhere else in the communities is quite disturbing. We condemn any form of violence in our schools. We are working with the police to ensure the safety of our teachers, learners and the entire school community against criminals who continue to terrorise them in a safe environment that school premises are supposed to be,” said Motshekga in a statement.

“Our programme of Safety in Schools continues to advocate for no violence of any form in our schools, hence Government led by the Deputy Minister of Basic Education Dr Reginah Mhaule and other Deputy Ministers from the SAPS, Justice and Constitutional Development, Social Development and many other partners will intensify the campaign against violence in schools including Gender Based Violence in Limpopo on 15 October 2021.

“The safety of teachers, learners and staff is a collective responsibility of the entire society and we should all play our part to end the violence and criminal activities that occur especially in our school premises.”

Motshekga has sent her condolences to both the family of the deceased teacher and the school, and called on the police to ensure that those who carried out this brutal murderer are arrested, charged and jailed as soon as possible.