On Friday, June 24 schools closed for the holiday signalling the end of the second school term. Many learners looked forward to enjoying the winter school break but 19 Weenen scholars can’t say same.

On Wednesday, June 22, the learners from a school in Weenen appeared before the Weenen Magistrate’s Court and were found guilty of public violence. 13 of the 19 learners have to pay a R1 000 fine as part of their sentence.

Six of them are juveniles and were given a six month suspended sentence. The conviction and sentencing stems from an incident, which broke out at on Monday, May 16 this year.

A group of 20 students disrupted the first lesson by pelting their fellow learners with stones and rocks in an aim to prevent them from being taught.

Their ‘dangerous and disruptive’ behaviour led to several windows being damaged at the school, nearby homes and two buses. The students aged between 15 and 19 were arrested and later that day a few were released into their parents’ custody.

“All 19 accused are also held jointly liable for paying back the cost of the property damaged by them during the violence, namely two busses and the school,” said police spokesperson Captain Charmaine Struwig.

The 20th accused made an appearance in court on Friday, June 24.