A Soweto family is mourning the passing of a young life due to a fatal stabbing incident at a local school. It has been reported that the father of the deceased learner said he did not know his son as a bully and wants answers.
The suspected murderer is understood to be a Grade 9 learner at the Thaba-Jabula Secondary School, in Soweto. According to reports, the Grade 9 learner had stabbed a fellow Grade 10 learner who had allegedly been bullying the younger brother of the suspect.
Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) spokesperson, Steve Mabona has confirmed that the department has deployed officials to provide counseling to school learners and teachers.
The Education Department has pleaded with learners not to resort to violence to solve their problems. Teacher unions are also of the same opinion.
In an interview, National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) Executive Director, Basil Manuel, said:
Our learners learn from society at large and if this is happening in the homes, it will spill over.
Manuel has urged parents and the community to ensure that violence is not the initial response. South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) General Secretary, Mugwena Maluleke said violence is experienced every day in their schools and this has to end.
After the recent passing of a teacher in KwaZulu-Natal, the teacher union has urged members of society to protect teachers, learners, and education workers as incidents of violence in schools have serious implications for quality teaching and learning.
