Celani Sikhakhane
Many learners, mostly grade 11s and 12s, arrive at school with knives and sticks, prepared to get involved in fights at any given time.
This has caused panic and fear in teachers and learners of the Sihlahlasenkosi High School in Nongoma, northern KwaZulu-Natal, leaving the school staff seeking transfers.
It is understood that the fighting started last year when male learners were accusing each other of stealing girlfriends.
The fights got so bad that the Department of Education in KZN needed the intervention of the Department of Community Safety.
Some teachers are even scared to go to school because of the violence among the learners.
A teacher told Scrolla.Africa that she has sought a transfer to another school because she can’t stand the violence.
“I’m from Durban but I really enjoyed working in rural areas and we have a rural allowance but the war at the school is frightening. Those kids fight like they want to kill each other. I had to leave the school last year because it was dangerous,” she said.
Phohloza Zungu of the Sinothando Youth foundation in the area said that the situation is getting worse and they need police to patrol at the school. On Thursday the foundation went to the school to try and reduce the tension at the school.
“Parents have taken their kids out of the school. They fight over girlfriends and that battle has spilled over into the communities,” said Zungu.
Zungu said the fighting has led to non-school going older people coming to the school and getting involved.
Scrolla.Africa understands that most teachers have relocated to Nongoma town to be safe because their quarters were attacked at night.
“This is no longer a school but a war zone,” said a teacher.
“Other parents are even accompanying their kids to school and camping there for the day to make sure that they are safe. I hope the department will work on this because it is painful and teachers are scared.”
Muzi Mahlambi of the Department of Education told Scrolla.Africa they are talking to the Department of Community Safety.
“We are engaging with traditional leaders and community members to try to find a solution,” said Mahlambi.
“We find ourselves doing something that is outside of our mandate. We are talking to different structures to make sure the fighting ends.”
