14 MANENBERG SCHOOLS FORCED TO SHUT DOORS

PUPILS went on the rampage at New Eisleben Secondary School yesterday – trashing offices, stoning cars and mugging a passer- by. They are demanding that the Department of Education remove principal Pat Mazimela, whom they accuse of being “rude” and meting out corporal punishment at the New Crossroads school.

A vehicle used by Cape Argus photographer Cindy Waxa was attacked, stoned and vandalised by pupils shortly before police arrived on the scene. The vehicle has since been taken in for investigation by police and a criminal case has been opened.

Waxa had to escape on foot, leaving her camera lens and equipment at the mercy of the protesting pupils.

A resident in plain clothes, Siyabulela Tunzi, 19, snatched her handbag and jacket and ran off with them. Waxa at first assumed that Tunzi had stolen them, but he soon returned the bag and jacket and helped her to escape to the relative safety of the school premises.

“She was all alone and the situation was very dangerous. It was risky for me, but I just wanted to help her,” Tunzi, pictured, said later.

Pupils next turned their wrath on motorists on New Eisleben Road. The Cape Argus also witnessed the violent mugging of a man who was robbed of a case of beer. Pupils smashed windows at the school, damaged three offices, dumped rubbish in the corridors, destroyed IT equipment and “tore” the school’s motorised gate from its hinges, said Bronagh Casey, spokeswoman for Education MEC Donald Grant. “The reasons for the disruption are still unclear – the department has yet to receive a list of grievances from the learners. Whatever, the reason, their behaviour is simply unacceptable. If the learners have certain grievances, they should report them to the district office where we can investigate or address. Destroying their own school is not the answer,” she said.

The school was closed for the day, but teachers and pupils have been asked to return today.

It was not clear whether Mazimela was on the premises when the chaos erupted. Teachers were seen leaving the school in cars, many of which were allowed to pass through the gathered crowd of pupils without being attacked.

Grade 10 pupil Nobuhle Ncwadi, 18, said: “We have nothing against them, Our issue is with the principal. If he shows his face around here – then you will see a thing. These pupils will beat him.”

She could not explain why so many private vehicles were attacked