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The Select Committee on Education, Sciences and the Creative Industries has written to the Eastern Cape Education MEC to seek clarity on a shooting incident that allegedly happened at Zanokhanyo High School in Ngcobo, just outside Mthatha.

The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Makhi Feni, condemned the shocking incident and said the violence targeting educators and school principals is one of the worst form of violence in our schools. So brazen are these criminals that they gatecrash schools during the day.

He said: “We have taken the step to write to the MEC, Mr Fundile Gade, to seek a report on what has happened. This incident cannot be taken as normal and everyone moves on the following day.

“School safety should be priority, given the extent to which criminals have organised and are seeking to target schools. Last year, we had incidents of extortion inside schools in the Eastern Cape province.”

Another alleged shooting occurred at Khanyolwethu Second School on Tuesday. The committee has sought clarity on whether counselling will be offered to the school’s learners and educators.

Mr Feni gave the Eastern Cape Department of Education a week to submit a report on the matter. “We accept that the principal survived the incident but that does not stop the committee from asking questions and holding those responsible for school safety accountable. We had hoped this year would be incident-free for the governance and safety of schools in the Eastern Cape. All incidents targeting school principals are condemned with the utmost disgust,” Mr Feni said.
 

Issued by the parliamentary communication services on behalf of the chairperson of the select committee on education, science and creative industries, Mr Makhi Feni.