Gang terror at school
Pupil stabbed dead by a fellow learner on the premises Teacher speaks of feared thugs in uniform
The killing of a pupil at Senzangakhona Secondary School in Mpumalanga has brought into focus the scourge of violence and gangsterism that have gripped the school.
Siyabonga Mabena, 17, a Grade 9 pupil at the school in Mandela Village, northeast of Pretoria, was stabbed three times on school grounds following an argument with another pupil two weeks ago.
He was declared dead on arrival at KwaMhlanga Hospital.
Siyabonga’s alleged killer, a 19-year-old Grade 9 pupil who has since been charged with murder, is due to appear in the KwaMhlanga Magistrate’s Court on February 20.
The incident, according to residents, was the third at the school. But the school’s management said only two such incidents were known to them and that one of them happened outside the school yard.
Teachers refused to speak, but a former teacher at the school, who left a few years ago, told a different story.
“The incident I remember vividly was in 2013 when a learner stabbed another learner to death. The biggest problem in that school is gangsterism. Learners, especially boys, join gangs to protect themselves from other gangs,” the teacher said.
When Sowetan visited the school yesterday, a group of boys were found smoking cigarettes in the toilets.
“Yes, we do smoke dagga. Dagga is good for some people and bad to some. Other people smoke dagga and become energetic and study while others get lazy,” said one pupil.
Other pupils said they were too afraid of the gangs to speak of what was happening at the school. They confirmed knowing Siyabonga’s death was due to a gang-related fight.
The deceased’s brother Nhlanhla, 27, said Siyabonga always looked worried and frightened when it was time to go to school.
“Sometimes he would leave home and not go to school but hang around at the shops.
“He was scared [of other gangs] but he would not come out and say anything whenever we asked what was bothering him... but you could sense his fear,” Nhlanhla said.
Siyabonga’s uncle Nipho Mabena said his nephew and his group of friends were known as the K-Way gang because they dressed up in items belonging to the clothing brand.
Nipho also said he was aware of at least two separate killings at the school before Siyabonga’s death. He said his nephew had a fight with the other pupil, who scaled the fence to fetch a knife from his home.
Neighbour Betty Kabini also said Siyabonga was a third victim she was aware of but did not remember details of the other killings, adding that her own son stabbed another pupil with a bottle at the school in 2013.
“Something is very wrong with that school, children are dying because of drugs and gangs,” Kabini said.
A female teacher, who spoke from outside the school’s premises, said teachers were afraid of knife-wielding pupils.
“There are several rival gangs, the most popular being the K-Way [and] Abafana Basedladleni... that school is dangerous. We fear for our lives.
“They smoke dagga and you cannot do anything. They are very aggressive and illdisciplined.”
Provincial department of education spokesman Jasper Zwane said they were investigating Siyabonga’s death, adding that they were not aware of the other incidents at the school. “The report will be able to indicate whether there are other incidents.”