“I nearly lost my son. The doctors said he could have died if he was not provided medical assistance on time.”
These are the words of a mother of a grade 11 pupil at TM Letlhake Secondary School who is in a critical condition after he was stabbed several times by fellow pupils when a fight among gangs broke out at the school on Wednesday.
The teenager has been admitted at Leratong Hospital in Kagiso with a stab wound close to his spinal cord.
“When my son left for school I thought he was safe. I never imagined that he could be attacked like this by fellow pupils. The knife nearly landed on his spinal cord.
“I am grateful that he is still alive but I want action to be taken against his attackers. These kids nearly killed my son,” said the mother, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her child.
The fight started inside the schoolyard in Bekkersdal, on the East Rand, and was captured on a cellphone by fellow pupils who could be heard cheering.
The 30-seconds clip shows a number of boys being violently attacked.
In the clip, one boy is seen being dragged to the side as he tries to block numerous punches and flying kicks coming from all directions.
The school’s security was called and they separated the pupils, but they continued the fight outside the school premises where, according to pupils and a staff member, fists were replaced with knives and machetes.
Four pupils were later admitted at Simunye Clinic with stab wounds on their upper bodies and bruises on their hands.
Bekkersdal community leader, Charles Makwakwa, said a number of school boys in the area are part of gangs that are formed after they have gone for traditional initiation schools.
“They return to the community believing that they are real men and can do whatever they want.
“These boys are causing problems in the community and their bad behaviour has also moved into the schooling system,” said Makwakwa.
Provincial police spokesperson Col Dimakatso Sello said the police were investigating, adding that no arrests had been made.
Parents and school staff said four stabbing incidents have been reported at the school over the past three months.
Lack of school management has also been blamed as a contributing factor fuelling a rise in violent attacks at the school.
“This school has been without a principal since the beginning of the year. Teacher absenteeism is a problem. Most of the teachers are afraid to instil discipline on these kids because they know that they are part of feared gangs,” said parent Nkele Moeti.
Classes were suspended at the school on Wednesday and Thursday.
Two police vans were stationed at the school.
Gauteng department of education officials met with the school governing body on Thursday afternoon to find solutions.
Provincial education spokesperson, Steve Mabona, did not respond to questions about lack of management.
He said in a statement: “The department is concerned about the incident that took place at the school whereby a group of about six boys attacked and stabbed one boy learner.
“While police investigations were underway at the school, a message was received that another boy learner was stabbed outside the school premises. The police have subsequently opened three cases. Two of these cases are for stabbing and one is for a hit-and-run.”
However, residents and pupils said no one was hit by a car.
A meeting will be held at the school on Friday.
nzimandeb@sowetan.co.za
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