Stop gangsterism, says MEC after learner’s fatal stabbing
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane paid a visit to the school and the family of a learner who was tragically killed by his peers.
Learners who are involved in acts of criminality and gangsterism must halt such behaviour, Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has warned.
Chiloane addressed learners of Lesedi Secondary School on June 20, before visiting the family of a Grade 11 learner who was fatally stabbed recently.
Lethabo Matula was brutally murdered just outside the school’s premises when two fellow learners confronted and stabbed him. He was declared dead after being taken to the hospital.
Chiloane encouraged learners to speak up about bullying, gangsterism and said schools need to enforce the school code of conduct.
“Those of you who are involved in acts of gangsterism must stop such unruly behaviour immediately before you enter the school yard,” said Chiloane.
He pleaded with the learners not to let what happened near the school happen again.
“The school premises are a safe haven for learners. The school premises are like factories where we are producing future lawyers, doctors and presidents,” said Chiloane.
“Grade 12 learners need to focus on their school work. There is one term left to write their final exams, and afterwards it’s colleges or universities where they will better their lives.”
Chiloane offered his condolences to the Matula family.
He said it is the government’s responsibility to protect all learners.
Description: Gauteng MEC for education Matome Chiloane, the family of Lethabo Lethabo Matula standing around under a tin roof.
According to Chiloane, the murder was premeditated.
“This is a premeditated murder as perpetrators came to the school wearing balaclavas to murder their fellow learner, and as a result, we find ourselves at the lowest point. But we admit that the school should have put in place measures to make sure that such an incident doesn’t occur,” Chiloane said to the family.
He also blamed the police for not being proactive.
He identified Lesedi Secondary as one of the schools with high crime and said police should have dispatched at least one vehicle to the school premises in the morning and afternoon.
Chiloane said violence among learners usually takes place just outside the school premises. He suggested that police make themselves visible next to the gates at least 30 minutes before school starts in the morning and 30 minutes after the end of lessons in the afternoon.
Rekord spoke to Lethabo’s aunt, Shirley Mokonyane, who questioned which learner would be next to suffer at the hands of violence.
She said the culture of bullying needs to be dealt with at schools, or else parents would lose their children on the premises.
“The school premises are supposed to be a safe haven for our children. Our government needs to show a strong hand in dealing with bullying and gangsterism,” said Mokonyane.
She said everyone needs to join in the fight: from parents, teachers, to law enforcement agencies.
Bongaan Ramontja from Soil of Africa said: “We can’t rely on suspending learners from school as a mechanism to entrench discipline at schools. Once you suspend learners, you will find out there are wrong role models outside the school yard who will prey on them and use them in nefarious activities.”
Ramontja said Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi needs to permanently deploy wardens at all schools in Gauteng to search learners on a daily basis.
The two boys who allegedly killed Lethabo Matula have now been arrested.
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