Durban - The pupils and teachers of a Pietermaritzburg primary school who witnessed a 40-year-old man attack a security guard with a screwdriver inside the school are traumatised by the horrific incident, says Childline KZN’s acting director, Adeshini Naicker.
Naicker was speaking after social workers from the organisation had to do an emergency run to Alston Primary to render trauma debriefing to both educators and pupils on Thursday morning, after Wednesday’s incident.
“This happened in broad daylight and full view (of the children), leaving all witnesses traumatised after the horrific incident,” she said.
Naicker said the fact that this attack happened at a school where our children are supposed to be safe from all harm and danger, makes one question the definition of a safe space.
“As a child protection organisation we are rendered speechless at the brutality displayed with no regard for the children,” she said.
The KZN Department of Education said in a statement on Wednesday night that preliminary reports revealed that the suspect gained entry into the school premises through the pedestrian gate, before attacking the security guard and two other adults.
It said a video obtained from a witness showed pupils screaming and running for cover.
Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala said the vicious attack took place at 1pm.
Gwala said the suspect entered the school and stabbed a security guard in the arm with a screwdriver.
“Another person who witnessed the incident tried to assist the security guard who had been stabbed by scaring the suspect with a gas gun,” she said.
However, Gwala said the suspect went straight to the person who had tried to assist and also stabbed him in the hand.
“Police arrived at the scene and arrested the suspect, who is 40 years old,” she said.