Durban — Emotions ran high when teachers at Phikiswayo Primary School in Ntuzuma on Tuesday recalled the tragic events of Monday when teacher Duduzile Khumalo, 46 was gunned down.
Khumalo was on the school premises when two unknown men shot and killed her before fleeing.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said police in Ntuzuma were investigating a case of murder. Thus far no arrests have been made.
On Tuesday, teachers, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed their concerns about their safety at school following the incident.
The pupils were also reluctant to come to school, they said.
One teacher said she was hijacked on the school premises a few years ago but was lucky not to have been shot. She said the shooting brought back horrific memories of her incident.
Colleagues said Khumalo, a Grade R teacher, was dedicated to her job and pupils.
She was also part of the portfolio that donated to vulnerable children in the community.
School principal Mthokozisi Mchunu said he was attending a meeting outside of the school when the shooting happened and could not comment. Mchunu said the children and teachers are receiving counselling.
KZN Education head of department, Nkosinathi Ngcobo, who visited the school on Tuesday, said their school safety strategies rest on four pillars.
Those pillars included fencing the school premises; police; community; and security. Ngcobo said the department needs a budget to deal with security issues.
School safety has come under the spotlight with National Teachers’ Union (Natu) secretary-general Doctor Ngema saying Khumalo was in her classroom, preparing to receive learners when two men entered the school premises pretending to be searching for a lost school jersey, but opened fire and shot the defenceless teacher.
Ngema said Khumalo reportedly tried to run away, but the suspects pursued her and shot her multiple times at close range, in full view of learners who were gathered for prayers.
SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) provincial secretary in KwaZulu-Natal, Nomarashiya Caluza, and Vee Gani, chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Parents’ Association, said security at schools is a growing concern that needs to be reviewed.
Meanwhile, DA KZN education spokesperson Sakhile Mngadi, MPL, said he will submit a written parliamentary question to MEC Sipho Hlomuka and his department to establish the true state of safety and security at the province’s public schools.
Mngadi said a late 2023 study conducted by Stats SA revealed that KZN had the highest percentage of children who experienced violence at school (35.1%).
“Exposure to violence can harm a child’s emotional, psychological and even physical development. Children exposed to violence are more likely to have difficulty in school, abuse drugs or alcohol, behave aggressively, suffer from depression or other mental health problems and engage in criminal behaviour as adults,” Mngadi said.
Mngadi said children of Phikiswayo Primary must receive ongoing trauma counselling and assessments.
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