On Monday, Weenen police, the Ladysmith Tactical Response Team (TRT), Ladysmith K9 Unit and Pietermaritzburg Public Order Police were out in force in the Weenen area. The group of police officers were faced with a conflict which had developed between high school pupils.
It is alleged that a group of pupils who had been either suspended or expelled for misbehaviour at a local high school had joined together to form a group which had resorted to disruptive and riotous behaviour in order to prevent other learners from attending school. Before school started on Monday morning, the group used stones and rocks to pelt other learners.
Police were quick to move in, and arrested 20 pupils aged between 15 and 19. They all face charges of public violence.
The windows of two buses, several windows at the school and a few windows of residential premises situated nearby were damaged during the incident.
The suspects are being dealt with in terms of the Child Justice Act and will appear in the Weenen Magistrate’s Court soon.
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni, commended police on the arrests. “We cannot allow other pupils who are determined to better their lives be violated and disturbed by those who have no idea what they want with their lives. We will act as necessary to restore peace,” she said.
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