Teacher shot dead in school

“SHE WAS shot again… and again and again. He checked to see if she was alive and then shot her again in the head.”

So says Ntondo Mazula, the principal of Middelpos Primary School in Saldanha, after witnessing teacher Cacelwa Mapila’s killing on the school premises by her former husband.

Mazula said Mapila was shot next to her vehicle by her former husband yesterday, who hid in the school parking area and waited for her to return to her car.

“At 7.55am she entered the staff room and signed the register, then went to fetch stuff in her car.

“He was between the cars. He stood up with a gun and she tried to run around the car.

“He shot and she ran around the car and he shot at her again, then she fell. He shot again and again and again. I tried to approach him and he pointed the gun at me, so I turned around,” said Mazula.

Mazula said the ex-husband walked to a house that was visible from the school, broke a window and threw a key inside.

He then put the gun against his head and shot himself.

Mazula said the shooting took place over a few minutes while school pupils were outside, and while the pupils were kept from seeing the scene, a few of them saw the gunman on the premises.

Parents were contacted to fetch their children, and counselling is being arranged for those who were affected by the attack.

According to Mazula, the gunman did not stay in the area and arrived at the school from Cape Town this morning. He said the couple was going through a divorce.

MEC of Education Debbie Schäfer expressed shock and sadness. “I am deeply disturbed by the unspeakably tragic incident.

“Safe Schools officials were immediately dispatched to the school. Teachers from Middelpos Primary as well as the neighbouring school, Diazville Primary School, were severely traumatised by the incident.

“The SAPS is reportedly at the scene, and the school and officials will co-operate as required.

“My heartfelt condolences go to the teacher’s family, friends and the school community,” said Schäfer.

COUNSELLING HAS BEEN ARRANGED FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY THE ATTACK