Pupils set school alight after cellphones seized
THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has criticised the behaviour of pupils at Ndengetho High School, in KwaNdengezi, near Pinetown, for allegedly torching and vandalising parts of the school after their cellphones were confiscated by the police during a school raid.
During the raid, which took place last week, the police seized weapons, drugs and cellphones. Teacher unions and the KwaZulu-Natal Parents’ Association have also expressed outrage at the pupils’ action.
The department said it condemned the torching of classrooms and vandalism that took place at Ndengetho High School on Thursday.
“According to the reports from the school, the learners were reacting to the search-and-seizure operation that was conducted by the SAPS, which led to weapons, cellphones and drugs being confiscated. According to the school’s code of conduct, learners are not allowed to take cellphones into the school premises, hence they were confiscated.”
The department added that searchand-seizure operations formed part of a joint agreement with the police, and were part of a crime-prevention initiative that was implemented regularly.
“The members of the police who conduct search-and-seizure operations at schools are acting in line with the agreement, which is aimed at eradicating crime in schools,” it said.
KZN Education MEC Mbali Frazer said the department would like to remind school-management teams working with school governing bodies to ensure the schools’ codes of conduct were adhered to at all times.
“We applaud the work of the police, and we are encouraged to see that our agreement with the police is bearing fruit as there are many other schools where such operations by the SAPS are taking place.”
Police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said a case of malicious damage to property was opened at KwaNdengezi police station for investigation.
A resident, who spoke to The Mercury on condition of anonymity, said the school policy prohibited pupils from taking cellphones to school.
“From what I know there was an operation that took place at the school by the police where drugs, knives and cellphones were confiscated. Apparently the learners wanted their cellphones back and started fires at certain areas of the school.
“It is a relief that there was no major damage to the school. We hope the learners responsible for this are punished.”
SA Democratic Teachers’ Union provincial secretary Nomarashiya Caluza said: “What is important in our view is to understand why the school had a random search. We now know that some learners were alleged to be taking drugs, and their behaviour was unbecoming.
“In such cases, the school environment is no longer conducive for teaching and learning. We have witnessed the bullying and violence against teachers and learners happening in schools. Based on this, the school called for the
intervention of the SAPS.”
Thirona Moodley, the chief executive of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA, said they condemned any form of violence at schools.
“Police search-and-seizure operations are done in accordance with the law and for the benefit of learners. The destruction of school property is not acceptable and we strongly condemn the action of the learners. The sad thing is that the same learners are going to be learning on the same property they vandalised. We call upon the school governing body and the department to find those responsible and deal with them.”
Vee Gani, the chairperson of the Parents’ Association of KZN, said pupils who were responsible for carrying weapons and destroying school property should be removed from school.
“We can’t allow our schools to be controlled by thugs. We can’t allow this because a school is a place of learning, and not a drug zone or a gang zone.
“There is no parent that is going to be happy that their child is going to school and they are being exposed to this sort of behaviour. Our learners’ safety is of paramount importance.”