Brother’s death haunts matric pupil
THE brother of a Grade 9 pupil who was stabbed and killed at his school’s gates says he does not know how he will face returning to the same school where his sibling died, and write his matric exams this week.
Smanga Ngema, 20, is in matric at Nhlamvana High, in Esikhaleni near Richards Bay, where his brother Lungisani Ngema, 17, died on Tuesday.
He said he could not imagine why anyone would want to hurt Lungisani, who had many friends, and was a “gentleman”.
Smanga was home on the day that Lungisani died, and rushed to school after hearing the news of his brother’s death.
He found Lungisani’s body still lying at the school gate, surrounded by police.
Smanga is supposed to be writing English today.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane said a case of murder was being investigated. At 1pm on Tuesday Lungisani apparently argued with one of his schoolmates. A knife was produced, and Lungisani was stabbed in the chest. No arrests have been made.
KZN Education MEC Peggy Nkonyeni conveyed her condolences to the family yesterday.
According to Nkonyeni two suspects had been standing outside the school gate waiting for Lungisani.
“What happened is heartbreaking. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the inhuman behaviour shown by the suspects who took the life of a young soul who had a bright future ahead of him. We hope the police will work around the clock and make sure that the perpetrators are taken away from the community,” Nkonyeni said.
“Our prayers and thoughts are with the Ngema family during this difficult time. We are even more saddened by the fact that this incident happened at a critical time when learners are writing their final exams.”
In August, a murder and suicide at an Empangeni school reignited the debate over whether more stringent security measures should be introduced at schools, including installing metal detectors and hiring armed security guards. While parent bodies told The Mercury they were willing to consider such measures to keep pupils safe, some teachers’ unions took issue with the “militarisation” of schools. The National Teachers Union (Natu) led the charge for metal detectors to be installed at schools, and for armed security guards.
However, the Basic Education Department believes that the regular presence of police at schools increases mistrust and undermines respect for authority. Armed security guards were seen as ineffective, as they had little effect in identifying potential conflict and in mediating.
Evidence-based strategies to prevent school violence included reduced class sizes; teacher training; building relationships between schools and parents and community leaders; and increasing access to social workers and counsellors.