The Eastern Cape Department of Education MEC, Fundile Gade sends his heartfelt condolences to the family of the brutally killed principal from Zakhele Primary School who was gunned down on Wednesday, August 28, inside the school premises around 09:00 at Kwa Bhaca, Mount Ayliff, Alfred Nzo West.
Spokesperson for the Department of Education, Mali Mtima said that the perpetrator who was on foot, quickly disappeared into the nearby forest after the mercilessly shooting.
He said that the members of the Police services, were called on the scene and they quickly responded with dogs, but the perpetrator was not found.
“District officials led by the Circuit Manager Center rushed to the school on the same day for support. Learners and staff members were dismissed on Wednesday and Thursday, and a School Governing Body (SGB) meeting was scheduled for today, September 2, to brief everyone about the case and the plan of the department to support the school. Furthermore, the district psychosocial support has been activated as such social workers visited the school to conduct counseling to both the teachers and learners. Subsequently, the team will visit the family to pay respect and homage to the educator,” said Mtima.
He added that on different but similar incident, a group of thugs stormed the home of Efata School for the Blind nurse in Mthatha, O.R tambo Inland demanding extortion.
According to him the criminals demanded R50 000 ransom from the school’s nurse, upon his refusal, they took his mobile phone, laptop and television.
Mtima confirmed that the same criminals sent a short message via sms, to the principal demanding the same ransom.
“A case of extortion has been opened with the police and investigation is underway. The department has referred the matter to the police, while internally the department is s strengthening its security system.”
Gade urged the community to work with all law enforcement agencies to bring to books these extortionists and thugs.
“These incidents are serious indictment to the government and poses a threat of litigious cases coming up to government if employees can be killed in this fashion whilst at work. The security and justice cluster must appreciate the dire long-term effects of this scourge. We need to go back to the drawing board, review the existing strategy and execution plan for us to yield different results,” said Gade.
