2 teens killed

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - In a timeframe of less than 36 hours, two teenagers from Mossel Bay were viciously attacked and died of their injuries.

Hillcrest Secondary School learner, Michaela Booysen (17) was hit over the head with the handle of a pickaxe while walking in Dywili Street on Sunday, 6 October.

Michaela was walking with her boyfriend, Kealin Michaels (24), back to her house in Barracuda Street at about 03:20 when three young men attacked them.

The suspects took the black Nike shoes off her feet and stole a wallet and cash before running away. Michaela was still alive but died while paramedics were attending to her shortly after the attack.

Hours later, during breaktime on Monday, 7 October, Hillcrest Secondary School became a crime scene as 17-year-old Khuselo Ndanda was standing on the school grounds when three fellow learners ran up to him, stabbing him simultaneously with knives, multiple times on his upper body. He sustained five stab wounds to his chest and shoulders. Ndanda was rushed to the Mossel Bay Provincial Hospital and died in hospital from his injuries.

Community outcry
The murders follow recent community safety meetings held in the area, as well as a march by women, men and children against violence, in which a memorandum was handed over to police and members of the Department of Justice at the Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court on 26 September.

At the most recent community safety meeting, held on Sunday, 6 October, following the murder of Michaela Booysen, concerned community members and neighbourhood watch members who patrolled during the weekend, referred to "skollies who were on the streets looking for trouble".

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Police spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie has been reluctant to confirm that the stabbing incident at the school was a gang-related one, however, school principal Ivan Kronenberg did not beat around the bush in a voice note he sent to school parents after the stabbing.

"It is a sad day in the history of Hillcrest. We lost two learners within the space of 24 hours due to activities happening in the community."

Kronenberg said that this was due to gang-related activities in the various suburbs of Mossel Bay. He said there would be guards at school and when he spoke about the memorial service held for the deceased on Thursday, 10 Ocotber, Kronenberg said parents who feel their children are involved in any "grouping and activities in groups" in Elangeni, KwaNonqaba, Asla Park and Joe Slovo should rather keep their children at home.

"But please inform the school the reason why you kept him at home."

Security has since been reinforced at the school and there was a sombre mood at the school when the Mossel Bay Advertiser visited the school premises on Tuesday, after the stabbing the previous day. A teacher at Hillcrest who spoke to the Advertiser, but was too scared to be identified, said teachers were scared to teach armed learners.

"We know that the learners are sitting in our classrooms with knives and other weapons. It is disheartening to teach in these terrifying circumstances."

Kronenberg told the Advertiser during a visit to the school, that he, with the support of the school governing body, have issued letters to so-called "high risk learners" to not come to school until after the memorial service on Thursday.

Arrests
KwaNonqaba police and detectives worked around the clock to make arrests in both murder cases.

On Wednesday, 9 October, two Hillcrest learners, both aged 17, appeared in the Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court in Courtroom C in connection with the murder of Khuselo Ndanda. On the same day, police spokesperson Capt Pojie confirmed police had taken three males, two aged 17 and one 21, in for questioning in connection with Michaela's murder.

The Western Cape Education Department confirmed that the school is understandably shaken by the events.

Spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the school psychologist and a social worker, after counselling learners regarding the death of Michaela Booysen, promptly returned to the school as well as Department officials, including Safe Schools officials following the fatal stabbing of Khuselo Ndanda.

During the Advertiser's visit a psychologist was talking to learners in the school office and started arrangements to see teachers one by one. "I hope something will be done to stop the madness in our school society," the teacher said.

Khuselo Ndanda.