Youth leader from eMbalenhle appears in court following school protests
Sihle Mabena is expected to return to court on January 6 next year.
Sihle Mabena appeared before the Evander Civil Court on November 12 after several eMbalenhle secondary schools filed for a protection order against him.
School management accused Mabena of influencing learners to protest through his social media posts. In August, learners from multiple secondary schools in eMbalenhle began protesting, accusing some educators of sexual abuse.
The unrest quickly spread throughout the township, prompting police intervention. Mabena was arrested shortly afterwards for allegedly inciting the protests.
School authorities called for police assistance when the protests escalated and disrupted learning. In some schools, learners vandalised teachers’ vehicles. Following his arrest, learners gathered at the police station demanding Mabena’s release, and he was subsequently released.
Colonel Khuselwa Matrose, eMbalenhle Police Station commander, urged any learners who had allegedly been abused to come forward, either personally or with their parents, to open cases.
Following the unrest, Mpumalanga MEC for Education, Lindi Masina, met with local stakeholders at the eMbalenhle Sasol Club to address safety concerns, harassment complaints, and school governance issues. Discussions focused on rising challenges, including sexual harassment, drug trafficking, and gangsterism in schools.
The six schools most affected were Kiriyatswane, Kusasalethu, K.I. Thwala, Sizwakhele, Thomas Nhlabathi, and Osizweni secondary schools.
Masina confirmed that a teacher accused of sexual misconduct had been suspended pending investigation and assured the community that due process would be followed.
“Every learner deserves safety, every teacher deserves dignity, and every parent deserves peace of mind,” she said.
The Govan Mbeki First Civil Movement attended court in support of Mabena, who serves as the organisation’s youth desk general secretary, and provided him with legal representation. Mabena is expected to return to court on January 6 next year.
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