Chaos erupted at Hoërskool Die Burger earlier today when a group of frustrated learners forced the school gate off its track and spilled into the streets.

This follows an incident yesterday, April 9, where a teacher was stabbed by a Grade Eight learner in class.

Also read: Teacher stabbed at school

Rumours about a protest at the school started doing the rounds shortly after 09:00; however, at the Roodepoort Record’s arrival at the scene, learners appeared to be gathered on the blocks.

A security guard at the school denied that there was a protest, telling the Record journalist that there was a meeting in progress. Shortly after 11:00, another call alerted the Record of renewed protesting.

Also read: Teacher attacked at Die Burger

Upon arrival at the school, the gate was being kept closed by a CPF Community in Blue patroller, and children were arguing with him to let them out.

Every time the gate was opened for a vehicle coming in or out, several children would make a run for it, despite the best efforts of the patroller and security guard.

The Record was prevented from speaking to learners by the patroller, however, a parent allowed his children to be interviewed on condition that they not be identified.

According to the learners, teachers refused to attend class today, and all the learners were ‘hanging around’ on the sports field.

“The teachers left, but the security guard would not allow the learners out. A group of learners stormed the gate while the guard was closing it behind a teacher, forced it off the rails, and escaped.”

The learners also shed more light on the stabbing of the teacher.

“The whole thing started on Tuesday [April 8], with a new learner who was transferred from Cape Town. The teacher was disciplining the boy, telling him to sit up straight. The boy then swore at the teacher, and a verbal disagreement followed during which the learner threatened to shoot the teacher.

“On Wednesday morning, the learner was hanging around outside the school with other learners from another school. One of them went inside the school premises with him and came out again. A short while later in class, the boy walked up to the teacher and stabbed him out of the blue.”

The Gauteng Department of Education’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, told the Record that he will look into the situation and information will be shared once available.