An armed group breached the premises of a local school last month following an altercation involving a student of the school. This is according to Capt. Nathalie Martin, spokesperson for the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Stellenbosch.
Video footage of the incident, which happened at Stellenzicht Secondary School on the morning of 21 May, was shared with SMF News by an anonymous source who works in private security in the surrounding area of Jamestown. This source also alleged that the group is “a gang from Mountain View, mostly children”.
“It’s a new up and coming gang, which is growing in size since I’ve worked in this area,” claimed the source. “There were only a few members [at first], but now they’re growing rapidly.”
SAPS Stellenbosch could not confirm that the incident was gang-related.
Meanwhile, Carol Abrahams, the principal of Stellenzicht Secondary School, explained that the group breached the school premises by jumping over a fence at the back of the school premises.
The “intruders” fled by jumping over the locked gate and fence once they had been spotted, according to Millicent Merton, a communications officer for the Western Cape Education Department.
Governing body presses charges
Martin confirmed that no arrests had been made at the scene.
The Stellenzicht Secondary School governing body has, however, decided to press charges, as some of the intruders were identified by staff and security on the school premises, according to Merton.
In the video of the incident one of the intruders can be seen with “a weapon that looked like a panga,” according to Martin.
WCED commends school’s swift response
“The school implemented a lockdown procedure after intruders were spotted on the premises,” said Merton. Staff and students were instructed to remain inside the building as part of the school’s safety procedures.
Merton said that the school “promptly informed armed response and local police who arrived at the scene quickly”. She commended the school for implementing safety procedures quickly and effectively.
“The staff of Stellenzicht Secondary School strives to provide learners with the best academic, sport, and cultural opportunities. We encourage learners to be proud of our school, despite the many challenges we experience,” said Abrahams, who lamented incidents of this nature infringing on the wellbeing, opportunities, and peace of mind of the learners of the school.