MEC must probe Ladysmith school stabbing incident
11 November 2021
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) strongly condemns the stabbing of a learner at Ladysmith High School earlier today. This after the perpetrators allegedly barged through the school gates, past security guards and stabbed the pupil in the shoulder.
The DA will now write to KZN Education MEC, Kwazi Mshengu, calling on him to investigate this matter fully so that the lapses in security are identified.
The DA is shocked by this horrific incident. Regrettably, it is not the first school stabbing that has made headlines nationally during the last few weeks. That this learner escaped with his life and that no one else was injured, is a miracle.
The fact that this daring crime was pulled off in such a brazen manner has again highlighted just how inadequate school security really is.
When KZN’s school security programme was being discussed, as far back as 2019, the DA made several recommendations. These included but were not limited to;
- Self-defence training for security personnel at schools;
- Deterrents including pepper spray;
- A direct link to armed backup support where schools use a security company and;
- CCTV cameras at so-called hot spot schools.
At the time we also called for schools that could afford to install their own CCTV systems to do so given their important role they play in providing evidence when unfortunate incidents occur.
Oversight inspections by the DA – even those conducted recently – have shown just how easy it is to enter school premises on simple pretences.
The same visits have also exposed the lack of properly trained personnel as well as severe capacity issues when it comes to security, even in areas where gangs are known to be operating.
In the case of schools where security companies are service providers, the DA’s oversights have not shown a single instance where security guards have access to an urgent communication channel in the case of a major incident. Had this been the case at Ladysmith High School, today’s ghastly incident could have been avoided.
The DA welcomes the swift response by SAPS in this instance and sincerely hope that they will soon track down the thugs responsible for this horrendous crime.
Our schools must be safe places of teaching and learning. This requires a collaborative effort from all stakeholders, including our communities, who can help identify those criminals involved.
We remain committed to monitoring the outcome of this probe.
Issued by Imran Keeka, DA KZN Spokesperson on Education, 11 November 2021
