THREE SCHOOLS IN MASS PUBLIC BRAWL
VIOLENT public clashes between learners from three local schools over the past week were ignited by a fight over a girl.
On Monday a large group of learners from Old Mill High School, Richards Bay Secondary and Aquadene Secondary were involved in a brawl at the roof parking lot of Empangeni’s Sanlam Centre.
According to reports the fight is believed to have started outside the premises of Old Mill High School, before security personnel intervened and managed to disperse the learners.
The learners, however, made their way to the busy shopping centre where they continued to bare their knuckles in full view of customers and bystanders.
An active member of the Empangeni Community Policing Forum was present at the scene and said the fight had started just after 1pm.
‘There were around 40 to 50 school students gathered at the scene, most of them dressed in school uniform.
‘The learners were chanting and cheering and that caused a bit of commotion as it attracted more people who were inquisitive to see what was going on.
‘Ordinary customers visiting the mall felt intimidated and harassed by the large crowd.
‘There were not enough security guards on duty to handle and control the large crowd of students outside.
‘Once police arrived a large number of those who were gathered outside the mall dispersed,’ said the member.
Rumours that a male learner was arrested at the scene for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm were dispelled by King Cetshwayo Cluster Police spokesperson, Captain Mbongeni Mdlalose.
Mdlalose said he was, however, looking into the matter as he had also heard about such allegations although no case had been registered.
Monday’s incident followed a fight on Friday outside Old Mill High School.
In a video, which has been widely circulated online, a vast number of learners from Old Mill High and Richards Bay Secondary can be seen exchanging punches and kicks.
Lovers quarrel
King Cetshwayo District Director for Education in the meantime confirmed that both incidents have been directly linked to a quarrel between two male learners over a girl.
‘They are allegations that two boys from Old Mill High School were fighting over a girlfriend which escalated to other groups of boys from Richards Bay Secondary and Aquadene Secondary.
‘I have spoken to the principals of all the schools involved and have also requested that the School Governing Bodies at these schools intervene and find an amicable solution to resolving the issue.
‘We cannot have such incidents, in which our learners are committing acts of violence at public malls and on the road – that tells us that the situation is getting out of hand.
‘While we have managed to calm the situation down for now I must urge parents to assist us in helping ensure that their children are going to school to learn and not to get involved in acts of violence,’ said Chonco.
Meanwhile Operational Manager for uMhlathuze School Safety Patrollers, Senzo Mkhwanazi, who together with police received heaps of praise from Chonco for their intervention in helping stabilise flaring tensions between learners, said according to his understanding, the fight which broke out on Monday was a revenge attack by learners of Richards Bay Secondary.
Mkhwanazi coordinated the deployment of security personnel at the school.
‘We heard rumours that some learners were planning on burning the school down and so we stationed some extra staff at Old Mill High on Monday.’
Mkhwanazi, who is also part of CRG Security (contracted to the municipality), said he was concerned that people who were out of school were getting involved in the altercations.
‘Some of the learners from Richards Bay were transported to Old Mill in private vehicles, which tells us that they were getting help from people who were not in school, which is a very worrying,’ he said.
During a bag search at Old Mill High School on Tuesday morning, one learner was found in possession of a hammer.
Boys’ fight over girl gets three schools involved