A grade 12 learner at Thomas Nhlabathi Secondary School was stabbed and killed yesterday, 27 February 2024, by a grade 10 learner. The incident took place after school hours.
According to information the Bulletin received the incident came after two boys had an argument during school hours, which led to the grade 12 being stabbed.
“Learners carried the injured learner from outside the school where he was stabbed to the school’s foyer with stab wounds; the learner was quickly rushed to Ext 4 Clinic.
Unfortunately, the learner succumbed to his injuries and was certified deceased by a doctor at the clinic in the presence of his mother,” said Music Ndzukula, SGB Chairperson of the school.
In a separate incident two learners were stabbed at a dysfunctional school in Sundra near Delmas
“For years Sundra Secondary school was plagued daily by vandalism. The school’s fencing has been broken down to nothing, which makes it easier to be vandalised. The breaking of doors and windows have become the norm,” Annerie Weber: MPL – DA Spokesperson on Education: Mpumalanga Province, “The stealing of the electrical cable was detrimental to the school as they now have been for more than a year without electricity. the JOJO tanks vandalised, and taps broken down. The roof is in disrepair.”
A security guard was employed, and he allegedly was part of the removing of the electrical cable.
On Monday 24 February 2025, two learners were stabbed and fortunately they have survived. Discipline and safety are now truly impossible at the school and teachers and learners are starting to live in fear. Learners should be able to get their education in a safe environment and learners stabbing one another is a serious problem. “Where were the teachers that were supposed to be on duty?” asked Annerie
For years, the Mpumalanga Department of Education has been aware of the above challenges in this school, yet nothing has been done to address them. Now this school has become a true embarrassment not only to the department, but also to the learners and parents. It seems no one, not the SGB, nor the department can control everything that happens there.
The DA is really concerned that the conditions at the school are depriving learners of an opportunity to realize their full potential and access to quality education as enshrined in Section 29(1)(a) of the South African Constitution.
The above challenges that have not been addressed for years, show that the ANC Government cannot be trusted with the future of our children.
The DA would ask both the Mpumalanga Departments of Public Works and Education to have an urgent meeting with the acting Principal and SGB to sort out their differences, and to also find ways of address the issues of security and infrastructure at the school.
It is unfair that many children are forced to learn in dilapidated schools more than 30 years after democracy. Clearly the ANC must make way for a DA government that will prioritise school infrastructure and security, plus all other service delivery requirements.
The DA will continue fighting for our learners as we believe they have a right to safe and dignified learning environments.
