A fortnight ago, a 16-year old Gr 10 pupil, Nyeleti Ngobeni, died after complaining of severe headaches.
A week later, another learner, Webster Ngongo died after a quarrel with a schoolmate during a drinking binge in the village over the weekend.
School Governing Body Chairperson, Otherwise Mdaka, told CV on Monday that Webster had absconded classes early the previous Tuesday.
“A few hours later, just before school was dismissed, he waited at the school gate with a group of men armed with weapons,” he said. The group targeted another learner who had approached the gates, who responded by calling his brother.
This led to Webster being stabbed to death. Mdaka said in recent years, the school lost a number of teachers. Over the course of 2008 until 2010, three teachers died as a result of a car accident, a hijacking and a short illness, respectively.
“We are currently living in fear of losing more lives.
“Our learners are no longer concentrating in class and we fear they may fail at the end of the year.”
Another learner in the same grade as Webster, Rodney Sethole, said each day as he looks at the chair in which his friend used to sit, his face comes to mind. “He was a clever boy who would not hurt a fly. He respected all his teachers and classmates and always did his homework with diligence and cleanliness.
“He was my epitome of hope for the next grade,” said.
Limpopo Education Provincial Spokesperson, Dr Naledzani Rasila, said the department was aware of the incident and pleaded with parents to get involved in the education of their children, their behaviour included.
“Safety at school is not only a matter for teachers and principals. We condemn the incident in the strongest possible terms and hope our parents work hand-in-glove with teachers and the school governing body to make sure such incidents do not repeat themselves in our schools,” he said.
Police Spokesperson, Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe, said a suspect was arrested in connection with the murder and will appear in the Ritavi Magistrate’s Court today (Wednesday).
thoko@nmgroup.co.za
