Call for safer schools after fatal attack on Meadowlands learner
Authorities say interventions have been put in place following tensions linked to the incident, which disrupted schooling in the area.
Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Lebogang Maile, has conveyed his condolences following the tragic death of an 18-year-old Grade 10 learner from Mokgome Secondary School in Meadowlands.
The deceased was allegedly attacked in Braamfischerville on Tuesday, June 02.
The Gauteng Department of Education is already providing Psycho-Social Support to the family of the deceased and has offered help to other learners and educators affected by this tragedy.
ALSO READ: Two learners killed following taxi industry protest in Soweto
Maile is deeply disturbed by the circumstances surrounding the incident, which unfortunately took place in the middle of Child Protection Week, and condemns all forms of violence that threaten the safety, dignity and future of learners.
“No learner should lose their life to violence, and no parent should endure the pain of burying a child whose future held so much promise.
“We extend our sincere condolences to the bereaved family during this difficult period.
“We trust that law enforcement agencies will leave no stone unturned in bringing those responsible to justice. Violence against our children is an affront to society and cannot be normalised,” said Maile.
According to a statement released by the Gauteng Department of Education, reports indicate that the deceased learner, who was not at school at the time, was allegedly attacked by a rival group over accusations of stolen items.
The victim later passed away at Dobsonville Clinic, which led to rising tensions between groups of learners and further disrupted schooling in the area. In the aftermath, another learner was injured but has since been discharged from the clinic.
ALSO READ: Grade 9 learner in Meadowlands stabbed and killed
The situation was contained through swift intervention by school authorities and community safety teams, including the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD).
Some of the affected schools have opened criminal cases against former learners allegedly linked to the attacks and disruptions.
Maile said the tragic incident underscores the urgency of deepening community solidarity around education and child development.
He noted that schools do not exist in isolation from society and that the challenge of violence requires a collective response that transcends the school gate.
“The tragic loss of a young life reminds us that the safety and success of our children cannot be delegated to schools alone.
“Through our ‘It Takes a Village to Raise a Child’ campaign, we are mobilising society to forge a social compact that promotes community solidarity, strengthens social cohesion and creates a protective ecosystem around every learner.
ALSO READ: Grade 9 learner in Meadowlands stabbed and killed
“We must build broad consensus that every child belongs to all of us and that safeguarding their future is a collective duty,” he said.
Maile further indicated that the Department will, in due course, provide a comprehensive account of the state of violence affecting schools across Gauteng.
He said the broader assessment will outline the nature and extent of violence in schools, the interventions currently in place, emerging trends, and measures aimed at strengthening school safety and creating environments conducive to teaching and learning.
The report will also examine how communities, parents and stakeholders can play a more active role in building safer schools and sustaining the social compact necessary for educational success.
“We are grateful to the school and community safety organisations which intervened in and around Braamfischerville to prevent any further escalation of violence following the brutal murder of the Grade 10 learner. These were parents, fathers and mothers who put their lives at risk to protect learners in the area. This is exactly what we mean when we say, ‘it takes a village to raise a child,” he said.
ALSO READ: Former Kliptown Secondary School learners reunite
He added that the challenge of violence at our schools requires a whole-of-society approach. Parents, communities, government, civil society and law enforcement agencies must work together to protect our children and preserve schools as centres of learning, hope and opportunity.
The success of our education system depends on the strength of the social compact we build and the community solidarity we sustain
