Safety nightmare leads to pupil exodus
THE spike in gang violence in Helenvale and subsequent safety concerns at the four schools in the suburb have led to an exodus of pupils since the beginning of the year, according to principals.
They say parents who live in areas outside Helenvale have transferred their children to other schools while those who have remained in the area have sent their children to live with other family members outside the neighbourhood.
“We have a large number of kids who have transferred to other schools since the start of the year. The children who live here have become immune to it because this is all they know while others have left out of fear. They have been traumatised,” Gelvandale High School principal Deon O’Brien said.
O’Brien said the school had been hardest hit by the spike in violence because it was the only high school in the area.
Incidents occurred at the school on a daily basis.
“We have to call the police every day. If it isn’t gangsters throwing stones at pupils, then it is pupils being robbed of their cellphones and taxi fare or even physical fighting taking place at school.”
On two occasions the same pupil had been assaulted by suspected gang members who jumped over the school fence.
Helenvale Primary School principal Malcolm Roberts this week took the decision to close down the school until the Education Department could guarantee the safety of teachers and pupils.
This was after shots were fired outside the school and a terrified barber, chased by armed police in plain clothes, forced his way into a classroom to evade what he thought were gangsters.
Roberts said several former pupils had moved with their families to areas like Missionvale and Kleinskool to escape the violence.
“Those who cannot afford to move have sent their children away to live with family members in other areas. This is the worst it has ever been.”
Hostel supervisor Alroy Botha said he had been stabbed with a shard of glass in May last year by a former pupil who was now a suspected gang member.
“He got a year for stabbing me but after serving a month or two he was released. They jump the fence and walk around here often. It is almost as if they believe this is their turf,” he said.
Hostel matron Twannett Abrahams said they needed visible security there 24 hours because the majority of children at the hostel were girls and their sleep was often disturbed.
“We have received no assistance from the department but some parents have chipped in to buy burglar bars.”
District director Dr Nyathi Ntsiko said he planned to meet with the affected school principals next week to discuss possible options.