By Doreen Mokgolo
Seraka Mogoswane, who taught at Unity Secondary School in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, and was murdered on Friday night, was remembered for fighting to restore peace at the school over the past two years.
As an active steward for the South African Democratic Teachers Union, Mogoswane, 49, fought to bring unity to the school when it was divided into two rival factions after the appointment of the new principal, Melody Maseko, two years ago.
One group was upset at her appointment and demanded she leave, while the other supported her. This dispute continued to cause problems at the school, an insider told Scrolla.Africa.
On Friday night after meeting with friends, Mogoswane, who headed the school’s commerce department, stopped his car at a tavern on the corner of Gumbi and Essellen streets in Daveyton to allow his friends to use the bathroom. Two armed men on foot shot and killed him with eight bullets to the head.
Speaking at Mogoswane’s memorial service at the Oasis of Life Family Church in Daveyton on Tuesday, chairperson of the National Association of School Governing Bodies, Fraser Komane, said the education sector was being invaded by thugs.
“There are squabbles in our schools; as the association we have been sending e-mails to the department about the problems in this school but they hesitate to act to remedy the challenges.
“The school management doesn’t respect or work together with the principal; they are pulling in a different direction.
“We asked the Gauteng Education Department to deal with those misconducting themselves but they hesitated. Had they acted swiftly, I don’t think this brutal killing would have happened,” he said.
Mogoswane’s uncle, Lethoko Mogoswane, said the family urged the police to find those responsible for his nephew’s murder.
“The killers intended to kill him and made sure that they successfully carried out the hit. Not even an animal is killed with so many bullets,” he said.
On Friday morning, a teacher from Riverside High School in Vanderbiljpark was fatally shot by an unknown assailant at a traffic light near the North West University’s Vaal campus.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane is concerned by the senseless killing of educators in the province.
“We are pleading with law enforcement agencies to bring the culprits of these killings to book,” he said.
Pictured above: Tribute was paid to the late Seraka Mogoswane.
Image source: Doreen Mokgolo