Thursday’s murder of a 10th-grade student from Geluksdal Secondary School in Brakpan, east of Johannesburg, will prompt the community safety portfolio committee of the Gauteng Assembly to launch a focused intervention study.
The study will analyze the effectiveness of school safety actions in combating crime, and will be performed in collaboration with the education portfolio committee of the legislature.
“Part of this study will examine whether all schools in Gauteng have safety plans and the extent to which they are implemented to combat the plague of school violence,” the committee stated on Friday.
“The study will also examine the roles of the community safety and education departments, as well as law enforcement authorities. The research is one of the most important instruments for monitoring, as it will provide a comprehensive image of school safety.
“Recommendations will be formulated to influence government policies and the implementation of programs to combat school-based crime”
It expressed sadness on the death of a student and sent condolences to the family.
The stabbing occurred as a consequence of a quarrel that erupted on Thursday after three grade 10 students allegedly began pepper spraying other students during school hours.
According to the provincial department of education, approximately eight students approached them, causing them to cease.
However, the department explained, it is suspected that the culprits emerged after school in the company of unknown non-school-affiliated individuals, and a fight broke out again.
“Unfortunately, a fatal stab wound claimed the life of one of the students. “Another student allegedly escaped with minor injuries, while one of the alleged perpetrators sustained serious injuries,” said Matome Chiloane, the Gauteng education MEC, on Thursday night.
“The injured were transported by ambulance to Pholosong Hospital. We are profoundly saddened by the untimely death of one of our students, especially as a result of such a brutal crime.
“We disapprove greatly of students fighting among themselves. We offer our condolences to the afflicted family and the whole school community.”
The committee stated that it is awaiting a complete police investigation to shed light on the stabbing event.
»Student’s death prompts the Gauteng legislature to launch a safety review«