Brazen gang war at Indwe

Update Video

MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEO - Three learners have been stabbed during two separate attacks involving Indwe Secondary School.

On Thursday morning, 22 August the KwaNonqaba Police responded in full force to yet another fight, seemingly a retaliation for an off premises incident on Wednesday, 21 August when a 19-year-old learner of the school was stabbed in the back by another 19-year-old learner. This perpetrator has since been arrested.

On Thursday morning, however, several learners used a luxury vehicle to cart a bag full of weapons to the school.

It seems they may have been in cellphone communication with others, and were trying to arrange for back-up once the fight ensued.

A group of approximately eight learners waited for others who were busy writing a test to finish before the fight broke out and the stabbings occurred in the presence of teachers. When a female teacher tried to intervene she was assaulted by the learners and had a school desk thrown at her.

A Grade 9 and a Grade 10 learner was stabbed and injured in the Thursday morning incident.

Watch a video below:

Other schools involved
It was also reported that some of the perpetrators were not from Indwe, but attend other schools in the area. The KwaNonqaba Police confiscated several dangerous weapons. They also traced the vehicle that was used to distribute the weapons and arrested those involved.

Several people were arrested for both stabbing incidents.

The station commissioner of the KwaNonqaba Police, Lieut-Col Azisa Madongana met with the school principal, who was not at the school at the time of the incident on Thursday to address the situation and discuss measures to halt the violence.

The public order police unit from George will, if necessary, be activated going forward to intervene.

Comment
The Director: Communications at the Western Cape Education Department, Bronagh Hammond confirmed both incidents. She said by 12:15 the situation at the school was reported to be calm. "The WCED is trying to arrange a meeting with parents, school management, safe schools, and SAPS so that a coordinated plan can be implemented," Hammond said. She added, "WCED officials were at the school to determine what interventions could be implemented at the school, as gang activity in the community is now having a very negative and dangerous impact on the school environment."The district is arranging for a meeting with community roleplayers, school management, SAPS and parents to address this extremely concerning series of events."

The education department did not respond to the questions specifically posed to them on what was recently done to improve safety and security at this school as several stabbings have been reported in the recent past, what the long term planning is to improve safety for both learners and teachers on school grounds, nor what the long term plan is to eradicate the influence of gangsterism at this school?

Several stabbings
Two stabbing incidents at the school, one on Monday, 10 June and another on Wednesday, 12 June were also ascribed to gang activity in the community.

In April two learners, in grades 8 and 9, were attacked and stabbed by community members outside the school premises. In this case, the principal reportedly also believed the learners were affiliated to gangs.

This year, the school has reported two assaults, two stabbings and an incident of burglary and vandalism.

On Sunday morning, 30 June at approximately 02:40, 22-year-old Yongama Tiko was stabbed 27 times with a sharp object and died in hospital as a result. Thirteen people were accused of his murder, and also of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, and serious robbery. One of the minor accused was since released.

Most of the accused are learners at Indwe Secondary School.

The WCED Safe Schools fieldworker reported earlier that he had asked for additional support from the police and requested that they increase police visibility in the area.

Since the start of the current school term, the police have increased their presence and official programmes have been launched to address the gang activity in the area.

According to bystanders, the perpetrators continued with their disruptive behaviour despite the presence of the police on the school premises.

"The learners just jump the fence, they don't worry. They get their weapons through the fence when the police are not looking," tearful learners said.

The problem does not affect Indwe Secondary School only, as, in the most recent case, at least two learners who attend nearby high schools were reportedly involved in Thursday's attack.

Some of the weapons confiscated from Indwe Seconday School learners after yet another stabbing at the school on Thursday, 22 August.