Education activist Hendrick Makaneta says the increase in violence and crime at schools is troubling.
He said schools should be sanctuaries of learning, growth, and safety, not breeding grounds for fear and brutality.
He was speaking after the brutal murder of Koketso Manganyi, an 18-year-old learner at Modilati High School in Stinkwater, Hammanskraal, who was found stabbed to death near her home on September 8.
“We demand justice for Koketso and her family. We call on law enforcement agencies to work around the clock to ensure that justice is served. We also call on our government, communities, and stakeholders to work together to ensure safe and secure schools.
“The brutal murder of Koketso is a wake-up call for our society to take action. We cannot continue to lose lives to senseless violence. We must create a society where every child can learn, grow, and thrive without fear,” he said.
He described the brutal murder of Manganyi as a senseless act of violence, which had left many shattered.
“Koketso was a young woman with dreams and aspirations, trying to create a future for herself. It cannot be correct that her life was cut short in such a brutal manner. Her potential, her talent, and her life were senselessly taken away, leaving behind a trail of devastation.
“We offer our heartfelt condolences to Koketso’s family and urge her friends and classmates to seek support and counselling. We will continue to fight for a South Africa where every child can reach their full potential. We will not rest until justice is served for Koketso and her family.”
The safety of pupils and teachers at schools has become a concern nationwide amid an increase in death and violent incidents directed at teachers and learners.
In January 2023, a teacher in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni, was gunned down on the school premises by an unknown assailant. In the Free State, a 20-year-old learner fatally stabbed a teacher in October of that year.
The Star