Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has urged parents to work with schools when dealing with the discipline of learners.
Chiloane visited the family of 14-year-old Siyanda Malinga on the 9th of February 2024.
The Grade 8 learner from Oakdale Secondary School died a day earlier after he was reportedly stabbed by another learner. It is alleged that the stabbing incident was a result of a gang fight amongst learners from schools in the area.
Chiloane said that they have appointed approximately ten security guards and have also placed dogs at the school and that the community will form part of the action plan put in place to prevent similar incidents. The security is a temporary measure until all stakeholders are satisfied with the state of the school.
“We are calling on parents to really work with the schools. Discipline can only be learned at home and parents have left that to schools. We have a problem with that. We really need not to put too much pressure on our educators, because they didn’t do anything wrong in this regard,” Chiloane said.
He said the schools can resolve fights when they happen within the premises but cannot control what learners do outside of the school premises. He also added that most cases that involve stabbings usually happen outside of the school.
A family representative Jabulile Tshabala said that they are saddened by the incident. Tshabala described Malinga as a happy and obedient child.
She said that for the family to give Malinga a dignified send-off they will need assistance from the department.
Chiloane said that Malinga’s case is a homicide case that will be investigated by the police.
This incident is similar to that of Grade 10 learner, Siyabonga Mngomezulu (16) from Brookdale Secondary School in KwaZulu-Natal. Mngomezulu was allegedly stabbed to death by a Grade 8 learner after an alleged altercation broke out during lunch time.